Parsley and Dill Do Double Duty

Parsley comes in both flat-leaf and curly-leaf varieties, and each should be grown in the garden. Both types of parsley may be used in cooking, but flat-leaf parsley, also called Italian parsley, is most commonly used because it has more flavor, while curly-leaf varieties are often used as garnish. Add parsley to soups, stews, and homemade stock.

Parsley is easily started from seed, but one can take a short cut each spring and find seedlings at most nurseries.

Dill is yet another useful herb for cooking. Both leaves and seeds are used as flavoring. Dill goes especially well with cucumber. Who isn't familiar with the taste of dill pickles? Dill is also a delicious addition to green salad, potato salad, dips, and fish dishes.

Common varieties of dill plants are the tall growing Mammoth and the dwarf variety Fernleaf. You can start your own dill from seed in the spring or you can easily find seedlings at local nurseries.

Most of us gardeners enjoy seeing butterflies in our gardens, but the butterflies visiting us are looking for host plants to lay eggs.

Both parsley and dill are host plants for Black Swallowtail butterflies. So why not do a good thing and grow extra, to have enough for everyone?