There are many different kinds of basil, but I enjoy the African blue basil the most.

Basil is used a lot for Italian food. Grind basil leaves and combine them with parsley (if desired), olive oil and either pecans (more easily available) or pine nuts to make pesto. Freeze the mixture in an ice cube tray then, when desired, take out a cube or two and melt over pasta or other dishes. You can also just take the leaves, wash and dry them, then freeze them with water in an ice cube tray so they will be fresh when you use them for cooking.

We use the rose geranium for cooking. For example, coat the bottom of a pound cake pan with vegetable spray then a little sugar, spread the rose geranium leaves in the bottom of the pan then pour the batter over them, then bake the cake. Some people even tear up the leaves and put them in the cake.

I pray your Highness mark this curious herb: Touch it but lightly, stroke it softly, Sir, And it gives forth an odor sweet and rare; But crush it harshly and you'll make a scent Most disagreeable.

She had over 200 herbs in her garden--over 40 varieties of lavender, and 20 varieties of basil.

At the start, Connie wrote the Polly and Sybil roles, and she and I wrote Basil together,