Thymeless tips from Chicagoans who grow herbs
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A bounty of herbs and more. Photo: Courtesy of Robert Friesen
Neighbors can see Robert Friesen's garden — his "colorful masterpiece" — from 150 feet away.
The big picture: The benefits of growing your own herbs are far-reaching, from the simple joy of a new hobby to becoming a bit more self-sufficient.
- Friesen, of Wilmette, started growing herbs and more after a 2020 divorce.
Driving the garden: Fall is the prime time to plant perennial herbs such as sage, chives, oregano and thyme.
- Many herbs will thrive indoors during the winter — including baby parsley and mint plants, which are beginner-friendly and can be bought at a nursery, according to the Chicago Botanic Garden.
What they're saying: Grow what you eat, as South Side homesteader Kristin Burke recently told us. If you hate cilantro, don't waste space on it.
- Besides tomatoes and jalapenos, Friesen, who lives alone, sticks to herbs because "much goes to waste when I suddenly have the likes of 20 bell peppers."
Friesen's vibrant pots and window boxes, which cost about $200, are packed with three different types of basil, parsley, sage and rosemary, among other herbs.
- Thai basil and apple mint are particularly delicious in cocktails, he tells Axios.
The intrigue: Palatine homeowner David Sjolander grows mint — but not to eat.
- Mint repels pests, "but we've also found that one of our dogs likes to roll around in it and rub it all over herself," Sjolander tells Axios.
The bottom line: There's never a bad thyme to start your own herb garden.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say that Friesen's garden can be seen from 150 feet away, not yards.