Cocktail Herb Gardens By Christopher Nichols
QUICK LINKS:
Buy Outdoor Planted Containers • Buy Tools + Accessories
As the world begins to open up here in Southern California and Spring finally has arrived, it’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year of living with COVID as part of our everyday lives. I thought today we would lighten the mood with some beautiful herb gardens that you can harvest year around and them to your favorite cocktails.
These small herb gardens will not only impress your family or (your small pods of friends), but as they continue to grow, because they are portable, you can take them anywhere, give them as gifts: They make wonderful centerpieces for any table and best of all you can harvest from to create some memorable signature cocktails on the weekends.
Not only do these gardens offer beautiful sights but also bring amazing fragrance for your senses.
• These Planters are portable, go anywhere and make great gifts for:
• Baby Showers
• Bridal Showers
• Hostess Gifts
• AND My favorite weekend activity, BRUNCH
Now there is a little bit of work to be done before we get to the cocktail portion the segment...
Things you will need:
• Gloves and Apron
• Medium Paint Brush – to clean soil off plants
• Gardening Hand Tools
• Containers / Vessels with Handles are best
• Rich Organic Potting Soil- we recommend Roger Gardens potting mix.
• 4” assorted herbs and edible flower plants, like violas or pansies.
• Top Dressing of pebbles
• Small Watering Can
PLANTING THE COCKTAIL GARDENS:
All herbs grow best in full sunlight, so if you have a sunny kitchen window or outdoor patio balcony or patio, place them in areas where they can get at least - 8-10 hours of sunlight a day.
#1 Cocktail Herb Garden:
- PLANTS -
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Sage
• Mint
#2 Deluxe Herb with Flowers Cocktail Garden:
- PLANTS -
• Basil
• Creepy Rosemary
• Lemon Thyme
• Spanish Lavendar
• Viola / Pansies Flowering Plants
ORGANIC PEST CONTROL FOR HERB GARDENS:
• Use organic potting soil and because these are meant to be used as cutting gardens keep thing as natural as possible.
• For garden pests, you can mix-up the following all-natural Insect Spray:
• In a Blender full of water: add the following ingredients.
o (1) Large Sharp Onion, Chopped
o (3) Clove of Garlic
o (1) Table Spoon hot sauce
o Dash of chili powderv o Dash of cayenne pepper
• Blend and strain twice
• In a Spray bottle:
o Add 2 inches of strained mixture
o 1-inch biodegradable dish soap
o Top up with water & spray directly on pest infestation
• Store the mixture in the fridge for up to a year.
RECIPES FOR COCKTAILS - USING HERBS FROM YOUR CONTAINER GARDEN:
Now the fun part, let us make some cocktails with our fresh planted herbs….
• Let’s start with some favorite Brunch cocktails and spice them up “ I like to call them “Elevated Elixirs” with some of our fresh herbs and flowers that we just planted…
The Classic Mimosa
• OJ and Champs
• Add some of our favorite vodka
• Add some hand crushed lemon thyme for a spicy punch
• Add viola blossom to float for color! They are edible and great for salads and garnishes as well.
The Bellini
• Sparkling White Wine
• Add Prosecco and Peach Puree (or you can use Guava or Mango Juice)
• Add mint spring for taste and lavender florets for fragrance.
The Bloody Mary
• Use a tall hi-ball glass
• Salt or pepper the rim first
• Add ice and celery, olives, peppers, etc.
• Mix up your favorite vodka, bloody Mary mix, Tabasco or Tapatio, Worcester sauce, and a recent discovery- Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
• Whether you like them spicy or not you can add fresh herbs to give this classic Sunday brunch staple an upgrade- Bloody Mary by adding some muddled basil and a spring of thyme.
Italian Greyhound Luxe
• Mix fresh Grapefruit Juice, Aperol liqueur and fresh rosemary
Whiskey Lemonade
• Mix in a tumbler:
o Fresh Lemonade
o Whiskey or Bourbon
o Fresh herbs of rosemary and mint for muddling
• Then add a sprig for garnish…simply refreshing.
Now, find a spot in your garden, sip on your cocktail, relax and enjoy the rest of your day!
Learn and grow by viewing how to plant a cocktail herb garden container at:
https://www.foxla.com/video/914836
