It can be easy to think of a garden as being nothing more than an outdoor space, and somewhere to have pretty flowers and plants on show. However, increasingly this isn't the case, as many gardeners turn to the wide variety of herbs to add aroma, color and, most importantly, edibility to what they are growing.

With so many types of herbs to choose from however, it can be difficult deciding just what to go with in your garden. There are a few favorites though which, are not only used in many forms of cooking, but can be incorporated effectively and effortlessly into existing borders and plant containers.

One of the widest herbs in common use today is parsley, which can be used both as an ingredient in its own right, (for salads, soups and the like), a rich giver of flavor in many sauces, or simply as a garnish. There are two type available; flat leaf and curly leaf; both of which can be grown easily enough.

A biennial herb, it will need to be replaced every couple of years, but it will thrive well throughout its cycle. Young leaves can simply be cut off with a pair of scissors, and the growth will regenerate very quickly. Areas with a rich and nutrient soil are best, but the regular addition of liquid fertilizer will help immensely.

Another popular herb is basil. This is a delicate, annual, herb which will need to be replaced each year. It needs to be kept in quite mild temperatures, and protected from strong winds and the worst of the weather.

It is excellent eaten simply on its own with tomatoes, but also can help make great sauces and is an excellent addition to many an Italian pasta dish.

Parsley and basil are two of the soft herbs available which will not thrive outside in the garden throughout the winter months. However, if you have a warm area inside, you could keep them through the colder months, and replant the following spring.

There are a number of more resilient herbs available, which are also easy to grow in the garden, and will stand up to much more extremes in the weather.

One such herb in this regard is thyme. Delicately flavored leaves sprout from a wooden stem which should not be eaten, (but can be used to flavor sauces and gravies). Being a perennial herb, you will find thyme returning to your garden each year, with no work really required from you.

Rosemary too is another excellent perennial to grown. With a wonderful aroma at all times, it can be incorporated into a wide area of cooking; particularly lamb and potatoes. Rosemary will grow well in most garden types, and will simply blend in with existing plants without dominating

There are many other herbs to grow, and you should have a go and see what works best in your garden. They can be frozen and dried quite easily too, so growing herbs will see you have flavorsome meals throughout the year.