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Richard White
Richard was born in the U.K. and immigrated to Canada in 1973 where he worked in the forest industry as a tradesman for many years. Throughout this time his main passions were cooking and gardening. Along with his wife Jacynthe they moved to the present location of Hazelwood in the fall of 1985 with the idea of growing herbs and selling them fresh cut to restaurants. They also decided to grow and sell potted herb plants. The latter idea turned out to be a better business plan, and the first year he was proud to grow and sell thirty varieties of herbs in the driveway of the house. Today the farm is known far and wide and is home to over four hundred types of herb plants, display gardens and a gift shop. Richard was co-host of the thirteen part TV series called 'At Home with Herbs' which aired on Knowledge Network and the Women’s Television Network. He has taught gardening and cooking classes through the farm and Malaspina University College. He is still as passionate about his garden and kitchen today.
Richard White
Hazelwood Herb Farm
13576 Adshead Road
Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1H6
Canada
250-245-8007
info@hazelwoodherbfarm.com
www.hazelwoodherbfarm.com
July 2009
Catnip
I woke up one morning recently with an unfinished nursery rhyme going through my head. Unsure of what had made me remember this poem from my childhood; I shrugged it off and continued with my morning routine. However it would not leave me alone and I continued to mumble the first few lines all day long. It got worse as I started to talk out loudly in hopes of finishing the rhyme. It was at this point, that my wife came into the greenhouse where I was working, and asked what I was mumbling about. I explained the dilemma; but no help was forthcoming as her nursery rhymes are all in French. It was later in the week, when we were sitting in our favourite pub sipping on cold malted beverages that I spotted Terry. Being a fellow Englishman I took a chance that he may have the answer to the problem. I delivered the first few lines and thankfully he finished it.
Pussy cat, Pussy cat where have you been.
I've been to London to visit the Queen.
Pussy cat, Pussy cat what did you do there.
I frightened a mouse right under a chair.
It was at this point that it all came together; you see I had been researching an article about cats and herbs. In fact I have been doing a survey over the last few years, which I thought was very interesting. Every year we are asked here at the nursery, "What is the herb that cats love the most?" and "What is the herb that keeps cats out of the garden?" The answer to the first is Catnip and to the second, Rue. Now this is hardly what you would call a scientific study, but we sell seven Catnip plants to every Rue plant. Therefore the assumption could be made that more people love cats than hate them.
What is it about Catnip that cats love so much? The bruised leaves of the plant exude a chemical called nepetalactone that mimics a cat's sexual pheromones. Catnip is an aphrodisiac that may explain the bizarre ways in which cats react to the plant. The common name catnip is usually limited to Nepeta cataria, while all the other members of this large family are referred to as Catmint. In our garden cats do not bother the Catmints. All are hardy perennials with flower colours from blue to white.
There is an old saying that says, "If you set it, the cats will eat it. If you sow it the cats don't know it." Probably what happens is that in putting out plants we bruise the leaves and lead the cats right to it. When planting out Catnip, it is a good idea to protect the plant with a wire cage or sticks stuck into the ground. This will prevent cats from rolling over the new foliage. It is noteworthy that people only get upset when the neighbours cat rolls in their catnip patch. Have you ever witnessed the kind of scenario where the doting owners watch and exclaim, "Oh look darling, there's Fluffy in the catnip patch having fun again."
The next time you are visiting it is, "Sweetheart come here quickly, that scruffy Tiger from next door is in the catnip patch, can you chase him away." In our collection at the farm we have Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Lemon Catnip (Nepeta Cataria citriodora) and the following Catmints. Faassens Catmint (Nepeta faassenni) and Persian Catmint (Nepeta racemosa) are both low growing ground covers with long lasting blue flowers and grey green foliage. Six Hills Giant Catmint which as the name suggests is a large bushy plant with long spikes of deep blue flowers, and Dropmore Blue that attains a height of two feet with blue flowers. All make a fine addition to the perennial border and the larger varieties provide good cut flowers. As always Happy Gardening and Healthy Eating, oh and be nice to the neighbour's cat!
Richard White is co-owner of Hazelwood Herb Farm, Ladysmith, B.C.
Questions about Herbs? Richard has the answers
Richard White
Hazelwood Herb Farm
13576 Adshead Road
Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1H6
Canada
250-245-8007
info@hazelwoodherbfarm.com
www.hazelwoodherbfarm.com
Archive
| May 2009 |
Harvesting Herbs |
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| February 2009 |
Exploring a Herb Garden |
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| Nov/Dec 2008 |
Cooking With Herbs |
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| August 2008 |
Growing Your Own Herbs and Recipes |
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| July 2008 |
Growing Your Own Herbs |
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