HERBS ON MY DECK

Now that I have so many squash, tomatoes and melons growing out of control, I realize that there will be lots of cooking going on this summer. I have always wanted to plant herbs within easy reach of the kitchen, but never found a planter to my liking until I saw this LECHUZA Balconera Cottage balcony planter. They come in 20 in. and 32 in. widths made from tough plastic that doesn't look like plastic with a water reservoir at the bottom and a planter box insert. And there's a water level indicator that tells me when it is time to refill the reservoir. As you can see, they fit perfectly on the balcony railing just outside my kitchen door and I don't have to worry about water stains or leaks! Of course, you can use terra cotta, plain plastic or ceramic planters to fill with herbs or flowers and place them on the wall, fence or railing, but I really like these, For now they are planted with basil, Italian parsley, sage and mint - the perfect herbs for summer recipes. For more information, go to www.lechuza.com.