Backyard Gardener

Going Mintal MINT – for your mental health Story and Photos by Kat Long / Contributing Writer

I am a mint lover: I love the fact that it wanders all over the yard, that you cannot contain it no matter what you do and that it grows even in the dead of winter here in Oklahoma. Mainly, because dead of winter is all relative. February and 50 degrees? Let’s go find some mint. But the real love of mint comes from its many culinary uses. From drinks to desserts, let us celebrate and go a little MINTal.

From the plant family Lamaiceae, mint is known and can be identified by the unique square stem and opposite leaves. Yup, it is actually square. There are always a few exceptions to any rule, but most square stems are mint. And the mint family is mighty. Think basil, chia, lavender, oregano, thyme, savory, sage and on and on, including all those lovely flavored mints like mojito and spearmint.

Planting Mint

Let’s address the wandering problem first. Don’t plant mint if you want a controlled environment. Put it in a pot and put that potted mint on a stand, on the balcony, in the yard, by the patio or anywhere. Just remember to water it occasionally and you will have a mighty mint plant. However, if you would like to embrace the chaos and wander that is mint, pick a little-used corner of the yard; might I suggest a corner that is occasionally mowed or weed-eaten. Trimming your mints a couple of times of year will have it putting more energy into the leaves than into the rooting system. And freshly mowed mints smell heavenly. What Mint To Plant

The short answer is: it depends. Do you want a medicinal mint? Oregano, rosemary and basil are a great medicine cabinet. Oregano is a natural antibiotic; rosemary can be used for soothing any body ache (great for headaches) and basil is a great tummy soother. All are excellent kitchen herbs and grow well together at various heights.

I love the true mints and have an abundance of lemonbalm, mojito and spearmint all over the yard. We mow all of them at the end of June and then let them go to flower for fall. Lemonbalm, like its name, is an excellent balm for anxiety when steeped for tea, either fresh or dried. Also a great sleepytime tea. Mojito is of course for the mojito drink or what we have at my house, No-mos. Recipe is on Page 79. And spearmint. You can just chop up spearmint and mix into salads, add to strawberries, make tea, distill with 100% vodka to make mint extract for cookies and candies. Basically, what can’t you do with mint?

See GARDENER Continued on Page 79

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GARDENER Continued from Page 76

Toxicity

What you can do is overdo mint. Sage, pennyroyal, shisho and hyssop are heavy in extracts of thujone, pulegone and perilla ketone, which are all naturally occurring terpenes. These have a range of therapeutic uses, but like anything in nature, large amounts can be, how shall we say, psychedelic in their delivery to the nervous system. So, moderation is always a good path to follow with the mints. Just a caution.

Bee-Love

Bees love mint! All kinds of pollinators will come to your yard if you have mint going to flower. Don’t be alarmed if you see wasps and small-winged creatures you cannot identify. Mint’s powerful bouquet is a siren call to all the littles. The wasps are not there for you and will pretty much ignore humans; just don’t get between them and the mint flowers. Mint flowers come in all shapes and sizes, so having a variety means a variety of pollinators. The mojito mint really brings the big guys: larger wasps, moths and sometimes hummingbirds. The basil and thyme bring the little sweat bees and what look like flying ants, which are flying ants, but they are still cool. Check out this website for a native bee identification poster and information on each species at https://bit.ly/2ZHMdXX. Another great thing about mint, especially for bees and beekeepers, is mint keeps the mites that set up shop in beehives population low to none. Having mint in your chicken area does the same thing. So feel free to plant some lemonbalm, catnip or spearmint around the bee box or chicken coop.

Crafty

Lastly, for all the crafters and DIYers out there, sage, bergamot, rosemary and hyssop, after drying, make great sachets for pillows, storage chests or just to tuck in the linen closet. Drying herbs is as easy as twine, paper sack and a cat/dog-free environment. I use the spare closet and hang them to dry in the fall. All ready for use around Thanksgiving into Christmas for cooking, tea and gift giving.

I hope this gives those jaded about mint a new way to look at it, and for all the newbies, don’t listen to the jaded: you can always pull it up later. I promise. My mojito has migrated all over the yard and is currently set up shop in the strawberry plant. It is a lovely combination, mint and strawberries. Give it a try and of course, Happy Gardening!

NO-MOS

(Nonalcoholic Mojito)

• Large jar (I use a 1/2 gallon) • Muddler or wooden spoon • 1 cup torn mojito (or your favorite mint) leaves • 4 limes quartered (or a lime juicer for halves) • 4 tablespoons agave (honey or simple sugar works too) • 1 liter soda water (lime flavored is good!)

Put mint leaves, agave and 3 limes squeezed in the jar and muddle together for a couple of minutes. You can also do this in a bowl; then add some water and put in the jar. Fill the jar halfway with filtered water. Then fill jar with the soda water. Stir. Add ice to glasses and pour over the ice. Strain if you like, but not necessary. Garnish with mint leaf and remaining lime wedges. Serves 4. Use large glasses.