Potted Basil

I always have a few pots of herbs on the balcony, which get to bask in the sunshine all summer long. Contrary to my expectations, herbs are not the kind of care free plants that will forgive you if you forget to water them, not even the drought friendly rosemary.

They may require a little more work, but I like having them there, lost among the pots of petunias and moss roses. On a whim, I decided to start the basil indoors this year, something I usually don’t bother to do for herbs, and it returned the favor by germinating very quickly and immediately engaging in a growth spurt. By the time I move this pot outside, it may be fully grown.

Since the purple basil is more attractive and the green one is more flavorful, the pot features a blend of both varieties.

Basil is a sensitive herb: it likes sunshine but wilts quickly if it doesn’t get plenty of water. Some treat it as holy, old wives’ tales say that it drives men to madness, or that it is the plant of the basilisk and it has the ability to protect people from venomous bites. Some legends even say that it can guide the dead safely into the afterlife.

At the very least it is said to bring happiness and prosperity into the household. I will let you in on a little secret: all herbs do. Just plant as many of them as you can and enjoy them all summer long in delicious healthy dishes, they’re well worth your trouble.