On 31 Jan 2010 15:18:43 GMT, "Michael \"Dog3\""
> wrote:

>brooklyn1 >
: in rec.food.cooking
>
>>
>> No mystery here... depending on growing zone perennials and biennials
>> will easily survive a cold spell... it's the annuals that will go
>> kaput.
>
>Well, I admit to paying little attention the herbs in the garden. I've
>always planted them as annuals and assumed they would eventually die off as
>the cooler season hit. Shows you how much research I've done on them
>Nada. A couple of years ago I noticed that some of them made it through
>and came back the next year. I felt like such a dunce. I still can't get
>rosemary to make it through the winter without digging it up and bringing
>it indoors. I'm puzzled why the cilantro died off after making it for 4
>seasons. I'll have to read up on them and maybe plant them in more
>appropriate areas if they'll winter well.
>
>Michael

The perennials that normally survive in your area will come back year
after year, just like trees. Annuals won't come back, but some may
reseed, then what you'll see in spring is an entirely new plant, not
the old plant. Some herbs, like dill, are annuals but they reseed so
profusely that they are considered invasive. The dill used for it's
greenery is a different plant from the one used for its seed... it's
the one that its seed is used that you don't want to plant, your
neighbors will hate you... you'll hate you.