An Herbal Bath Garden

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as posted on another list

 

An Herbal Bath Garden

 

With the holidays behind us and more seed and bulb catalogs arriving every day, it's time to begin planning next year's garden. This week I'm planning an herbal bath garden, and I thought you'd enjoy taking a look at some of my favorite 'bath herbs' with me. All of the herbs can be grown in containers, worked into your flower or vegetable garden, or grown in a small garden of their own. They are versatile, and have a number of culinary and medicinal uses besides the bath, but after the stress of the holidays, I found an herbal bath theme appealing.

 

Plants for an An Herbal Bath Garden

 

*CALENDULA*

 

Calendula, also known as Pot Marigold, is a cheery little cottage garden flower that grows to a height of up to 20 inches. The flowers, which come in shades of yellow and orange, make nice cut flowers.

 

Creamy Marigold Cleanser

 

4 tablespoons olive or almond oil 2 tablespoons dried pot marigold flowers few drops of violet, orange blossom or rose water

 

Warm the oil in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water. Stir in the dried flowers and continue to heat gently for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, allow to cool, and stir in the flower water.

 

*LAVENDER*

 

Here's another traditional cottage garden plant, best known as an ingredient in potpourri. The plant may grow to a height of 3 feet, but there are dwarf forms for edging which reach only about 18 inches.

 

Lavender Vinegar Hair Rinse

 

Fill a one-quart jar 1/2 full with lavender leaves and flowers. Top with white vinegar; seal with a plastic lid, or place plastic wrap over the jar first before closing lid. Place in a dark place, such as a cupboard for 3-4 weeks. Mix one part lavender vinegar to one part distilled water and use to rinse hair after shampooing. Thanks to Brenda at www.OldFashionedLiving.com for this wonderful recipe.

 

GERMAN CHAMOMILE

 

This is the herb most people associate with relaxation, thanks to the popularity of chamomile tea. These perennial plants grow to between four and twelve inches high and produce a profusion of little daisy-like flowers. It can be used as a groundcover or grown between stepping stones in areas where traffic is light to moderate.

 

Chamomile Cleansing Milk (Must be kept refrigerated. Good only for 2-4 days.)

 

Place 1 cup of warm milk in a bowl. The milk must be kept warm throughout, however it must never boil and a skin must not form on the milk. The easiest way to accomplish this is by placing the bowl over a saucepan of hot water. Add 3 tablespoons fresh chamomile flowers. Stir gently from time to time so as not to break up the flowers. Infuse until the milk smells strongly of chamomile. Strain into glass jars. Excellent for oily skin.

 

MARJORAM

 

Most people associate marjoram with the kitchen, but it's is a wonderful addition to an herbal bath. It's also used in tea and herbal sleep pillows. Marjoram is a very fragrant herb, and pretty enough for the flower garden, with clusters of dainty white flowers growing around the stems. It will reach a height of one to two feet.

 

Fragrant Bath Bag

 

Try experimenting with your favorite fragrant herbs to make a bath bag. I use about 1/4 cup of marjoram, 2 tablespoons of mint, and 2 tablespoons of lavender. Cut the quantities in half if using dried herbs.

 

You will probably be able to find a small muslin bath bag with a drawstring at the top in your favorite craft store. If not, simply tie the herbs up securely in a square of muslin. Steep the bag in a quart of boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes, then allow to cool. Add the water and the bag to your bath water.

 

MINT

 

What could be more refreshing in your bath? Here's a link to some information on growing and using mint from master gardener and herbalist Laurel Morris. You won't want to miss her recipe for Rosemary Mint Wine Jelly. http://www.chamomiletimes.com/herbs/mints.htm

 

Peppermint Skin Toner

 

1 pint vinegar 1 pint purified water 1 cup mint leaves

 

Place all ingredients in a glass or enamel saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour into a glass jar and allow to steep for four days. Strain and bottle.

 

ROSEMARY

 

This is one of my all time favorite herbs. The branches of this evergreen shrub looks similar to those of a Christmas tree, and smell even better. It can grow up to five feet tall, and does well in containers, but it's hard to overwinter indoors.

 

Rosemary Hair Treatment

 

Use this rinse to darken, condition and tone hair.

 

Hot Method: Fill a jar with fresh rosemary and cover with sunflower or almond oil. Place the jar up to the neck in a saucepan of water and bring to a medium temperature. Simmer for up to three hours. Strain through filter paper or cloth into a brown glass bottle.

 

Cold Method: Follow the instructions above, except that the oil should be placed on a sunny windowsill for up to three weeks instead of heated. The process can be repeated with the strained oil infusion and a fresh supply of herbs to make a stronger oil.

 

To Use: Work the oil into the hair, then cover with plastic wrap and a warm towel. Relax in a warm place with a good book for 30 minutes to an hour, then shampoo.

 

THYME

 

Gardeners in warm, humid climates such as the Southeastern US will do better to grow thyme indoors because it won't stand up well to the climate. For those of you who can grow this attractive plant outdoors, it's a short plant -- less than twelve inches -- and it can be used as an edging for the perennial garden. It produces tiny, pale pink flowers at the tips of the stems in summer.

 

This is the herb to use after a long hot day in the garden because it helps to deodorize the body. You can also use it in a foot soak to help with tired, stinky feet. To use, steep a handful of mixed thyme and rosemary in a quart of boiling water for 15 minutes, cool, and add to the bath or foot soak.