Shar: I, too, love rosemary and always have a shrub of it growing in my garden. This year, howevever, I must take a few cuttings and start afresh. Why? Because we now have a snake lurking somewhere under the current plant, lost in the mulch but teasing the cats, and DH can't get close enough to identify it because the rosemary is too large. So the rosemary will be history this fall after cuttings are taken so we can eradicate the snake, which could be a copperhead, so we're taking no chances.

Loved your article, as usual!

A very good reason to start a new plant or two, Angie. I think I'd wait until a very cold day before trying to get rid of the big rosemary. I know most snakes are good ones, but we have copperheads here too. And rattlesnakes.

It reminds me of the time when my son was small and came running in to tell his dad he'd spotted a "rattle headed copper moccasin" sunning in our driveway. I guess he was trying to cover all the bases.

Thank you!