I have found several perennial herbs that grow extremely well here in Bellevue. Chives are my current top favorite for a few reasons: they are beautiful in our gardens from early summer to fall, they provide a solid food source for the local pollinators and for the honey bees, and they add extra zest to our home cooked meals.

Chives are slow growing. The chives I planted in our herb garden took three full summers before they flowered. It was totally worth the wait. Not only were they beautiful all summer last year, they are also the first to perk up this spring.

Summer 2020 plans: I’ve already mapped out a new garden where I plan to have the border lined with chives. Chives also grow well in pots, so if you want an easy way to help out our pollinators, grow chives!