Come dry your July herbs with me for winter comfort

Let us gather our July treasures before the sun gets too hot

Come along into the garden, my dear. July is finally here, and the morning air is sweet. This is the very best time of the year to gather our green treasures for the cold months ahead. Before the sun climbs too high and bakes the essential oils right out of the leaves, we must go out with our shears. I always wait until the morning dew has just evaporated. If you pick them too wet, they will mould, and if you wait until the afternoon, the heat will have stolen their goodness. We want them at their proudest, just before they flower, when all their strength is still tucked inside the leaves.

Look at this beautiful lemon verbena, and my beloved rosemary. My mother always said that a house with rosemary by the gate is a happy house. We will gather small bundles of these, along with some sage and wild thyme. Do not make the bunches too thick, or the air cannot circulate. I tie them gently with a bit of kitchen string and hang them upside down in my dark, airy pantry. Never dry them in the sun, as it bleaches their beautiful colour and ruins the taste. In a few weeks, when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers, we will store them in pretty glass jars away from the light.

When winter comes and the wind howls outside, you will be so glad we took this walk today. You will just have to open a jar of your dried verbena to bring back the warm July sun. A simple cup of this warm infusion in the evening does you so much good, helping you to unwind and prepare for a peaceful night. It is a simple, traditional habit we have kept in my family for generations. If you want to know more about these wonderful plants, you can read my little guides on thyme, lemon verbena, sage, and rosemary. Now, let us get to work while the morning is still fresh.

Hang them high and dry just like my mother used to do

Come inside out of the July sun, my dear, and let us get to work in the shade. This is the very best month to gather our green treasures before the heat of summer tires them out. My mother always said that July mornings hold a special kind of magic. Once the morning dew has evaporated, but before the sun gets too hot, we snip our herbs. We want them full of their natural oils, just when they are bursting with life. Take some kitchen twine and tie small, loose bundles of your freshly picked thyme, lemon verbena, sage, and rosemary. If you make the bunches too thick, the air cannot circulate, and we do not want any dampness spoiling our winter stores.

Now, we hang them upside down in a warm, dark, and airy place. I always use the old beams in my pantry, but any dry corner away from direct sunlight will do beautifully. This traditional way keeps all the goodness in the leaves as they dry. In a couple of weeks, when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers, gently strip them from the stems. Store them in clean glass jars in your cupboard, away from the light. That way, when the cold winds blow, you will have your own jars of comfort ready.

We have always done it this way, and it never fails to bring comfort when the seasons change. A simple cup of warm lemon verbena tea in the evening helps you unwind after a long day, and a pinch of dried thyme in your winter stews just does you so much good. These plants have been valued for generations to help us feel better when the winter chill sets in. If you want to know more about each of these wonderful plants, you can look at my guides for thyme, lemon verbena, sage, and rosemary. They are our quiet little helpers for the quiet months ahead.

Keep your jars safe in the cupboard for a warm winter hug

Once your July harvest is bone-dry, you must protect it from its two worst enemies: dampness and light. I always use clean glass jars with a good rubber seal, and I tuck them away in my darkest pantry cupboard. My mother used to say that keeping your herbs in the dark preserves their soul, and she was right. When you open a jar of lemon verbena or peppermint in the middle of January, that sudden burst of summer fragrance will tell you everything you need to know. It is like keeping a little bit of the July sun in a bottle, ready to warm you up when the frost arrives.

These jars are your winter treasure chest. When the cold wind blows, you will be so glad you took the time to tie those little bouquets of sage and rosemary. If your stomach feels a bit heavy after a rich Sunday meal, a simple cup of your home-dried sage helps you feel lighter and brings back your comfort. And on those long, dark evenings when you cannot quiet your mind, a handful of your dried lemon verbena leaves in hot water is just the thing to help you unwind before bed. It is a simple, traditional way to care for yourself, just as we have always done.

Remember to label your jars with the name of the herb and the year of harvest. I know you think you will remember which is which, but trust me, dried leaves can look awfully similar when the winter grey sets in. If you ever feel really under the weather, do not play the hero; go and see your doctor or pharmacist. But for the daily chills and the quiet evenings, your cupboard full of July herbs will be there to give you a warm, comforting hug.