it's basil...

...also known as sweet basil - or

ocimum basilicum - originally from india... but it's a culinary herb best known and featured prominently in italian cuisine - it's one of my all time favorite herbs - it can be used in a variety of ways - both cooked and raw - a simple, effective herb for the kitchen...

i've always had a desire to grow my own basil - i do rather well with flowers - in terms of not killing them off - so i figure my fortune might prevail in the same respect with herbs - at least, i hope so... i am trying to be positive - the directions were straight forward - simple enough - seemed so easy that a 2 year old would be able to carry them through - so we'll see how i fair -

already the fragrance is wafting through my kitchen - which lends itself to images of pasta with pesto - fresh basil over tomatoes - marina sauce - there is also evidence basil is effective as an anti-inflammatory - and also has antioxidant properties in the essential oils of the leaves - health benefits i want to take advantage of - so am looking forward to ultimate success with my new little plant - growing big and strong - providing me with many...

a

happy day.....