(January) My Mother received a Rosemary plant for Christmas and does not know
how to properly take care of it. Can you provide some instructions as to how to
keep it alive here in Arkansas?
My guess is that the rosemary is indoors since the holidays? If so, it won't be easy to keep it alive, and unfortunately, it wouldn't be winter hardy enough now to plant outdoors. Low humidity coupled with warm heat inside causes leaves to dry out. Try to put it in the coolest location in your house with fairly bright light. Let it dry slightly in between watering. As soon as spring hits, move it outdoors where it should be much happier. Rosemary likes a well-drained spot in full sun, and should be winter hardy once it does go outdoors. Good luck.
(April) My oregano,
rosemary and lemon thyme came back in my vegetable garden. Any chance they would
come back if I transplanted them to large containers on my back deck? My mint
did, but you can't kill it even if you WANT to!
For the most part, all three of these herbs are winter hardy. Different varieties of rosemary overwinter better than others, but it sounds like you have chosen well. When they are containerized, you do have to offer more protection during the winter. The root system will get cooler, and you do need to water even in the winter, but by wrapping the pots, or healing them in, I think you would be fine.