In my yard the basil grows to the size of a hedge, so I pick it whenever I need it and don't worry about branching it out. My rosemary is the size of the Volkswagen beetle (in three different spots around the yard) so again, I don't worry about when to prune - when it gets too big I cut it back, and if I need some for roasting a chicken, I snip off new growth somewhere that needs pruning. Thyme is also woody and prolific so I just snip whatever, and oregano is taking over my side kitchen garden like a ground cover, so I pull out hunks of it to transplant to the front bed in the yard (slowly establishing it there so it will be useful ground cover). I haven't grown lavender and I'm not that fond of parsley.

So unless this inspires you to grow immense patches of herbs in your yard, one of the others probably ought to answer this question. :)

I have been doing some of what Liz referred to recently as "retail therapy." I finally reached the point where there was so much shopping I needed to do I made a big circuit. I picked up a whole fresh sockeye salmon to brine and smoke for my daughter. It'll take a couple of days, so it's a good thing I have tomorrow off.

Must clear out the kitchen and get started filleting the fish. I bought it whole and saved about $8 a pound on it.

SRS