If you're passionate about this aromatic herb (Mentha piperita), join the crowd! In Greek myth, Pluto, the god of the underworld, indulged himself in a passionate fling with a nymph named Menthe. His jealous wife, Persephone, cooled Pluto's ardor by turning Menthe into a plant that could grow only in moist, shady places. Pluto couldn't undo Persephone's handiwork, but he endowed Menthe with a lovely fragrance.

To indulge your passion for peppermint, plant in any shady, moist spot. Unless you want your peppermint to wander, confine it in patio containers or with a perimeter barrier buried 4-6" in the soil. And since peppermint is promiscuous (freely cross-breeding with other mints), be sure and cut it before the flower buds form. Harvest after the dew has dried and hang in bunches (or dry in a 150-degree oven). Sprinkle fresh leaves on a fruit salad, and use the dried leaves for tea and as a bath herb.