Fragrant plants: fresh ideas for aromatic leaves

Your fragrant garden plants have countless olfactory uses.

How to grow your own herb garden

While most of us think of herbs in relationship to cooking, there are a variety of reasons to grow these hardy plants.

Heavenly herbs: Rediscover the culinary magic of nature's flavor makers

These days I've learned so much more about herbs that I have them growing in my garden, in containers and window boxes and even indoors during the winter months. What I've learned — thanks to the Oxford English Dictionary — is that the leaves and stems of herbs are used for medicine, or their scent or their flavor.

This Old Thing: Eye-catching jar held potpourri

Q. My mother gave me this piece. I like it but have no idea what it was used for. It is 23 centimetres high (nine inches) and has a gold anchor mark on the base edge. The lid has seven small holes all around it. It’s in good condition except for missing one small piece on the handle. I’m wondering what this was used for and how much it’s worth.

Hindus perform fire ritual to tend to mother earth

Hindus perform fire ritual to tend to mother earth Houston Chronicle Copyright 2012 Houston Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Published 07:18 p.m., Sunday, April 22, 2012 Flames and aromatic fumes rose from a small pit as a family gathered around the Agnihotra, a sacrificial fire and special ceremony held Sunday at the ...