And still others say that the large rosemary shrub sheltered the Holy Family during cold nights as they fled into Egypt. Ancient Greeks believed that rosemary strengthened the mind and improved memory. It also became an emblem of faithfulness for lovers. There is sensual beauty in rosemary, in appearance and in fragrance and in taste. It has scaly bark and opposite, narrow, spiky, leathery leaves, which are thick and dark green on top and downy white underneath.
Prominent veins run down the middle of the leaves, and the margins roll down.
They bloom in spring and summer in our climate and grow in short axillary racemes. The fruit is a very small, spherical nutlet. As with all things of beauty, there are challenges to enjoying them. My first experience with rosemary was strangely successful. As we brushed against it walking past, the fragrance was lovely.