Rosemary

‘Adorn your chest with rosemary and love will never flee’.

In ancient Greece, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was crowned with sprigs of rosemary, and the Romans, too, honoured Venus with this herb of love. Ever since then, lovers have given each other sprigs of rosemary to express their feelings. Do as the grooms do in some parts of Bavaria: on your wedding day, wear a rosemary wreath with your thumb threaded through it, and tie some rosemary into the bridal bouquet. This brings good luck to the marriage, and the couple will be blessed with fertility. In Austria, on the other hand, young lads go from house to house and wash the girls’ feet with rosemary wine.

However, rosemary also symbolises feelings of longing, grief and death. Astrologically, the plant is associated with both Venus, the goddess of love, and Saturn – the guardian of the threshold. The dead were sprinkled with holy water using a sprig of rosemary. In Italy, mourners place the sprigs of rosemary they have brought with them into the grave, presumably so that the deceased may find their way safely to paradise.

In this way, rosemary combines mourning, a zest for life and joy. Its spicy scent can invigorate and stimulate us, pulling us out of our ‘contemplation’, so that we can find the strength to turn towards life and love once more.

There are many different varieties of rosemary, which differ in scent, growth habit and frost tolerance. The flowers range in colour from white and light blue to dark blue. The trailing varieties are particularly suitable for hanging baskets.

In our climate, rosemary is only partially hardy, as it is native to the Mediterranean region. It is therefore important to choose the right spot in the garden. It should be able to take root in loose, humus-rich to slightly sandy soil. Rosemary likes to be kept slightly moist. But be careful: rosemary cannot tolerate waterlogged soil. Ideally, it should be planted near a wall or house wall facing south or west, so that it can benefit from the heat radiating from the stones for as long as possible.

Growing from seed is time-consuming and requires warm germination temperatures. For this reason, rosemary is mainly propagated from cuttings.

As the plant is evergreen, it can be harvested all year round. Regular, gentle pruning of the branches promotes healthy growth. If you wish to build up a supply, dry these branches quickly in a shady, well-ventilated spot.

In winter, it is a good idea to give rosemary extra protection from frost with a few pine branches or a piece of fleece, and to water it with a splash of water now and then if the weather is dry and mild.

To be on the safe side, grow your rosemary as a container plant. Overwinter it in a bright, cool spot and water it occasionally. In its winter quarters, keep an eye out for pests such as scale insects and mildew.

Rosemary offers a wide range of benefits. It is therefore valued in cosmetics, naturopathy and incense practices, as well as in aromatherapy. Rosemary leaves are used in Cologne water, hair conditioners and shampoos. Rosemary stimulates the circulation and relieves joint pain. An oil is distilled from the flowers, which kills bacteria and fungi.

The Rosmareien herb (field name) – who hasn’t heard of it? Who hasn’t enjoyed delicately seasoned barbecued meats with its aromatic, wholesome, needle-like leaves? The scent evokes cosy barbecue evenings, holidays by the sea, or the aroma and flavour of a delicately seasoned leg of lamb. Sausages, stuffings, soups, stews and much more can be enhanced with rosemary. The aromatic rosemary leaves and flowers can also be used with potatoes.