You, too, can cook with a wealth of fresh herbs. And you, too, can have the luxury of using huge amounts of herbs, say armfuls of fennel or rosemary, to throw on the coals to smoke salmon or chicken and even have unlimited amounts for garnish material. There are herbs for sunny or shady gardens, large yards or little patios. In fact, those with no yard at all can grow a few chive, parsley and basil plants on a sunny windowsill or balcony. And unlike many plants, herbs are seldom bothered by pests and diseases.
Popular perennials are thyme, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, chives and fennel.
Once you choose a garden spot with six to eight hours of sun and well-drained soil, all they need is occasional summer watering and some spring pruning for renewal. For gardeners with shady yards, choose from the shade-loving spearmint, peppermint and French sorrel. All the shade lovers grow so readily they can take over your yard if you don't control them, so plant them in containers. Either keep the containers on the patio or sink the cans in the garden. Most perennial herbs can be purchased as small plants at a local nursery.