My Yves Herb Garden Journey｜Yves 香草園足跡

_{This article is bilingual — English text is followed by the Chinese version. 本篇為雙語文章}

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My Yves Herb Garden Journey

Yves Kitchen was born from a deep remembrance of little angel Yves — a way to let love extend beyond time and into everyday life. Our newlywed haven was a walk-up building (tong lau）with rooftop in the quiet mid-slope of Central and Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. When searching for a home, I held one wish close to my heart: a rooftop where Yves could one day run and play under the sun.

Life later brought a season of grief and loss. When I began the Yves Kitchen blog, I asked myself — if Yves were here, besides loving good food, what else might bring joy? I pictured summer nights on the rooftop, the breeze carrying the fragrance of herbs, the air quiet and gentle. And so, I planted my first herbs.

The First Green Shoots

In the beginning, nothing seemed to survive. Yet slowly, this small rooftop became a shared joy for my husband and me — in fact, he grew even more passionate than I was. We began with mint, rosemary, and basil, then ventured into cucumbers, tomatoes, and even a lemon tree. I still remember the first cucumber harvest — so large it looked like a winter melon — and the lemons that inspired the lemon marmalade in my book.

There were countless memories, and the rooftop soon drew the attention of TV crews and magazines, with features reaching readers as far as Hong Kong to the US.

Herb Garden 2.0

As interviews and shoots became more frequent, I opened a studio to create a space separate from home. Naturally, my herb garden “divided and transplanted,” growing into its second life at the studio.

Over the years, the media has called me not only the “Jam Queen” but also a “Herb Expert.” Truthfully, I am not blessed with natural green fingers — but I am skilled in bringing herbs into jams and cooking, letting their aromas bloom at the table.

A Tropical Chapter in Thailand

When I moved to Thailand, I found myself surrounded by an abundance of Asian herbs, thriving under generous sunshine. Tending to them daily filled my days with vivid scents and a tide of creative inspiration.

A White-Kitchen Chapter in Scotland

Moving to cold, windswept Scotland, I feared the herb story would end. But I soon discovered that European herbs were long accustomed to winter’s chill. My Yves Herb Garden continued here, transformed from tropical to European, its scents and stories now unfolding in the white kitchen of a 200-year-old Victorian home.