Borage  

Borage has bright blue, star-shaped flowers that explode in a blue profusion all summer attracting honey bees.  This makes borage one of the most attractive herb plants to us as beekeepers.  If you are one of the many people this year trying to help save the vanishing honeybee this is a perfect plant.  Try planting sunflowers in the same bed.  The sunflowers will occupy the over-story (area above the borage) providing valuable pollen to the bees and their wonderful yellow color is a great contrast to the blue of borage. 

The flavor of the borage leaves resembles that of cucumber.  Borage will grow to a height of about 18 inches, and spread about 12 inches. Borage is hardy annual that is a native of northern Europe, and grows well in the temperate regions of North America.

The flowers and young leaves may be used to garnish salads. dips, and cucumber soups.

Borage has been used as a tonic for the adrenal glands, it provides an invaluable support for a hectic lifestyle.  Borage is also rich in minerals, especially potassium.  It has been said that a tea made with borage helps to reduce fevers and ease chest colds. Historically woman in the past have used an infusion of borage to act as a galactogogue, promoting the production of milk in breastfeeding mothers.