Spring on your windowsill

THERE are plenty of urbanites with a spring in their step at this time of year and with it an urge to participate somehow in the growth that the season brings. If you are one of those people, don’t despair and think that you cannot enjoy the planting season in the concrete jungle.

Instead, consider what you have available to you and work with that. Maybe your front window high on the third floor has a deep sill where you could easily set up a pot or two? Then get yourself down to the home ware and gardening store and buy a bag of soil and a few packet of seeds. You’ll have great fun watching the colourful pansies take bloom or your mouth will water at the fragrance of the delicate herbs you’ve planted.

Your friends will think you the perfect host when they observe the garnish of fresh parsley on the grilled salmon and they’ll be speechless when they taste the chicken stuffing bursting with the flavours of sage and thyme that you grew by your own fair hand. Don’t forget to cut a few of your posies and add them as a centrepiece to your table. If you have any space left on your windowsill, try shaking some mint seeds into a pot and wait for it to bloom. The smell will freshen up your apartment, and it’s not a bad ingredient for your after dinner cocktails!