Salvia officinalis, sage.  The name salvia comes from Latin salvere, and it means to be in good health, to cure, to save.  

 

Sage grows in our area as a perennial.  It grows well from seed.  I planted several varieties close together,  and it has spread by self-seeding.  It likes dry soil, so it tolerates our dry, hot summers, and neglect;  qualities I admire in a plant!

 

And, the deer don't bother it!!   Another admirable quality.

 

Sage is a valuable culinary herb as an aid to digesting fatty foods, both savory and sweet.  The leaves can be mixed with onions, and used for poultry seasoning.  You can blend it into cream cheese, or make sage vinegar or sage butter.

Flowers can be eaten in salads.  We put a few leaves in a vase on the table at happy hour, to wrap around a piece of cheese, or use as a dipper.  And we always add fresh sage leaves to our Thanksgiving turkey on the grill.

 

I hope you will add a little sage to your herb garden.  Besides being tasty, it is beautiful!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!