Name: Rachel
Location: Lakeview - Chicago, Illinois
Last year the hubby and I bought a window planter and filled it with beautiful flowers… only to later realize no one could see all our efforts from the street. And while we at least enjoyed the flowers, this year we opted for something a little different. Something that, since no one else could see it, we would enjoy even more than flowers — an herb garden for our bar.
We still do have an herb garden (for cooking) and flowers on our back deck (which we love, love, love), but our new booze garden is just mere steps away from our bar, which we think is just about perfect. Based on drinks we like and drinks we think we will like, we opted for basil (2), mint (2), rosemary, and lavender.
I'm already dreaming up what we will make. Mojitos bursting with mint (and St-Germain, my current obsession), mint juleps, strawberry (vodka) basil lemonades, sueños with basil and rosemary, lavender-lemon drop martinis....mmmm, so many possibilities!
To read more about the cocktail garden, visit Rachel's blog, Chewables Chicago.
Thanks, Rachel! When can we come over for a drink?
And since Rachel's looking for recipes, here are a few from the Kitchn:
• Cucumber-Rosemary Gin and Tonic
• Easy Pitcher Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Basil Margaritas
• Icy-Cool Green Tea Mojitos
(Images: reader Rachel/Chewables Chicago)
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Are they in separate containers? Otherwise, the mint will take over the whole planter. Anyway, great idea! Your plants look happy. :)
Great idea - both the windox box and utilizing it for your own enjoyment. That ackowledged, trailing plants/flowers would be visible from the street. And yes, that mint will take over if not controlled...if that's even possible. I've spent the last 5 yrs trying to eradicate it from my in-ground her garden despite the fact that it was [supposedly] 'contained' in a pot on the adjacent patio. I love mint but the only place it's welcome here is on my sunny window sill and it doesn't seem to like it there. Your planter is lovely.
*herb* garden
Thanks everyone! It's been a lot of fun. I haven't had problems with the mint, even though it is all in one container, but I'll make sure to watch it. Appreciate the tips! One of our favorite cocktails this summer has been the gimmlet. Too bad I can't get lime trees to grow in Chicago!