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There is nothing that adds zest and zing to food like fresh herbs. Once you have tasted a simple omelette with the addition of fresh chopped parsley, or lamb sprinkled with rosemary, or leaves of basil on a tomato salad, you will not be able to return to dusty, flavorless dried herbs.

Herbs are tough plants, used to demanding terrains and climatic conditions. Very few of them need to be cosseted - in fact, many of them thrive on neglect. And this is part of why it is so easy to have long term herbs in your garden!

Many herb grow and produce leaves, flowers or seeds for extended periods, even if they aren't perennial (which means the opposite of annual, or having to replant afresh every year). To start with, it might be useful to mention some herbs which, while delicious, have a relatively short season and constantly need replanting. On the other hand, some of these will self-seed quite readily, which means that they will pop up when conditions are favourable, even if you don't regularly plant seeds. In this group we can include chervil, basil, coriander (cilantro), rocket, parsley, borage and dill. All of these, and in particular borage and rocket, self-seed quite prolifically. Other herbs which are easy to grow, and which are perennial (or as good as), are rosemary, thyme, oreganum, mint, lemongrass, sage, marjoram, lavender, bay trees, and chives.

To start off a herb garden, decide where you want it. You should choose a sunny spot outside, as most plants like light and air around them. Because herbs are all quite different, and are very pretty, you can plant them amongst other plants, where they can be both attractive and useful. For example, planting basil near your tomatoes, or chives near your roses, will help keep them pest-free. Parsley can make a pretty border edging, and planting creeping thyme and oreganum between pavers means that each time you walk that way, you will release some fragrance by crushing some of the leaves(and they are hardy enough to withstand this). Borage has pretty furry leaves, and striking lilac-colored flowers, and can be used to fill a flower bed as well as adding health and flavour to your food and drinks. A bay tree has an elegant classical shape, and can be a feature in your garden.

Some of these herbs need to be planted from seed, or seedlings. Mostly, they germinate quite easily, but parsley can sometimes be a bit difficult. I like to pour some boiling water over my parsley seeds after I have planted them - it certainly gets

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