BOOKS ON HERBS

* Herb Quarterly, P.O. Box 689, San Anselmo, Calif. 94979-0689; e-mail herbquart@aol.com. $24 annually.

* Southern Herb Growing by Shearer Publishing, 100 recipes from Hilltop Herb Farm, 300 color photographs and growing culture for 130 herbs. $30.

* Growing Herbs in Hampton Roads by Jeanne Hart Pettersen, P.O. Box 2884, Chesapeake 23327-1686. $4.50, available at local nature stores and garden centers.

* Encyclopedia of Herbs by Herb Society of America, 1,000 plants described with 1,500 photographs. $40.

MEDICINAL MATTERS

Gardening and medical news continues to herald the medicinal value of many herbs:

* Purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, for wounds and the immune system.

* St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum, for depression.

* Feverfew for migraines.

* Sage leaves rubbed on the teeth each morning to whiten them and help keep gums healthy.

Now mainstream companies are introducing new herbal products:

* Halls - Zinc Defense, a zinc and peppermint throat lozenge.

* Celestial Seasonings - Herbal Comfort lozenges with echinacea root extract, ginseng root extract, elderberry juice concentrate and oils of star anise, ginger, lemon grass, sage and white thyme.

LANDSCAPE USES

* In addition to using herbs for cooking and crafts, they make excellent additions to landscapes, providing interesting flowers and foliage. Many herbs also are food sources for butterfly caterpillars, such as fennel for the black swallowtail butterfly.

YEAR OF THE MINT

If you've ever met up with mint thriving in a garden, you know it's one of the easiest perennial herbs to grow. It's a great ``first herb'' to start with, says Carol Jordan of the Tidewater Unit, Herb Society of America, but it will crawl, creep and then race everywhere, causing havoc among other plants if not contained. So, be smart, and plant mint in a pot, placing it on a patio or sinking the pot in the soil of your herb garden.

Honored as the '98 Herb of the Year, Mint - Mentha - comes in many varieties: spearmint, peppermint, orange mint, Kentucky Colonel mint for mint juleps and gingermint, as well as lime, pineapple, grapefruit, apple and chocolate mints, says Carol.

``The best way to buy a mint is to rub the leaves and see if you like the scent,'' says Carol.

You also can use mint in creative ways: flowering mints attract bees, mint flowers can be used in salads as well as garnishes for desserts, fresh mint leaves in the bird bath water keep the water attractive to birds, mint leaves can be frozen in ice cubes to flavor iced tea, and mint adds a sparkling taste to carrots, peas or fresh beets.

``Recipes calling for mint generally mean spearmint, but try some of the other varieties for a new twist,'' says Carol. Although most recipes call for fresh mint, mint can be dried by hanging branches upside down in a dark place until brittle.

Mint, which symbolizes virtue, dates back to Greek mythology. When Persephone found out that Pluto was in love with the nymph Minthe, her jealousy led her to turn the young girl into a lowly plant. Pluto could not return Minthe to her former self but changed her into a plant that would have a sweet smell when stepped on.

Commercially, mint is used in many medicines and cosmetics, says Carol. Mint leaves are high in vitamins A and C, especially when used fresh.

Mint spreads easily by sending out runners everywhere, so it is a great plant to share with a friend, says Carol.

MINT RECIPES

Citrus and Mint Sauce

• 1 orange, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 small tart green apple, peeled, cored and diced
• 2 serrano chili peppers
• 1/2 cup fresh whole mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Put all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Makes 1 cup. Serve with lamb or pork.

Mint French Dressing

• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic
• 3/4 teaspoon fresh oregano
• 3/4 teaspoon fresh mint
• salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients in blender and chill for 30 minutes.

Mint Salsa Over Tomatoes

• 1 large shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1/4 cup minced fresh mint
• 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame-flavored oil
• 2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• freshly ground pepper
• fresh tomatoes sliced

Combine salsa ingredients and blend for 10 minutes. Pour over sliced tomatoes. Great chance to try various mints.