Their special meanings - rosemary for remembrance, yarrow for health, basil for love - lend charm and tenderness to gifts for special friends and family members.

To dry herbs or flowers for use in crafts: In the morning, after the leaves have dried, harvest long stems of your herbs and make small bunches. Tie the stems together and hang them in a temperate, well-ventilated, darkened room that has little dust. Label each because many herbs may look similar once they are dried. They should dry in about two weeks.

Here are some herb-based crafts from Barbara Brawley and Billi Parus, members of the Tidewater Unit, Herb Society of America.

TUSSIE MUSSIE

Materials: Main center flower, such as a rosebud, small flowers, scented geranium or lamb's ear leaves, green floral tape, paper doily, several yards of 1/4-inch satin ribbon.

Directions: Encircle the rosebud with rows or small flowers until you get the desired size, about 5-inches in diameter. Make the last row scented-geranium or lamb's ear leaves. Add a paper doily, wrap the flower stems with floral tape and add ribbon streamers.

HERB CANDLES

Materials: white or light-colored candles, dried and pressed herbs, melted paraffin, white glue.

Directions: Place pressed herbs around candle, using small dot of white glue to hold. When design is how you want it, brush the entire candle lightly with melted paraffin. Let it dry and apply a second coat.

BOOKMARKS

Materials: Pressed flowers/herbs, ribbon, card stock, poster board, backs of greeting cards, glue or spray mount, clear packing tape or lamination material.

Directions: Cut out the shape bookmark you want. Using small dots of glue or the spray mount, affix the pressed flower or herbs on the card stock. Seal the bookmark between two layers of clear tape or lamination material. Punch a hole at the top and insert a ribbon.

SACHETS

Materials: Muslin or decorative fabric, ribbons, trims.

Directions: Cut a rectangle 10 by 7 inches from fabric. Fold the fabric in half length wise, with right sides together. Sew across one short side and the open long side using +-inch seam allowance. Turn right side out and press. Fold a 3-inch hem to the inside and press. Fill the sachet with 5-6 tablespoons of herbal mixture. You can either sew the end closed or just tie it shut with decorative ribbon, about 20 inches.

BOOKS TO READ