Those of you who know me know that one of my first priorities when we moved was to get my herb garden going.  I do love gardening and I especially enjoy herbs.  So from Day 1 I was outside trying to determine its future home.  I wanted the location to be in full sun, close to the house and not too far from a water faucet.  So, with this criteria there was only one choice and that, as you can see by the pictures, is at the curves end of our larger garden.

 

I had a very freeform herb bed before which I loved but for this one I wanted something more traditional.  The choices were clear: a circular wagon-wheel type herb garden, a square box shape, or a rectangular divided garden.  I chose the later.  At first I felt like diagonally crossed pathways would be the way to go but finally decided on a standard cross shape with a focal point in the center.  You would not believe how many changes I have made mentally on what to do and how to do it, but finally I am settled. We will have large white rocks lining the pathways, with hardwood mulch in the paths. 

 

Paul bought me 10 Indian Hawthorne shrubs to line the long east side and I have planted Provence Lavender all along the west side.  There are four divided sections in our herb garden and I had originally planned to separate types of herbs in them, but so far I haven’t done that completely.  A garden such as this takes on a life of its own and I am excited to see what the Lord develops here.  Where you see the obelisks in the picture above - Paul is going to replace these with a cedar arbor for me.  I have already planted my yellow climbing rose here to climb the arbor so I reckon he best get busy on that. J Hint – hint, Honey!!

 

I am writing this on April 24, 2007 and so far we have planted 3 Rosemary plants, Echinacea (Purple Coneflower), Purple Phlox, Hyssop, Oregano, Stevia, Yellowroot, Bloodroot, Genovese Basil, Purple Ruffles Basil, Thyme, Common Sage, Germander, Yarrow, Zinnias, Sunflowers, Lemon Verbena, Anise Hyssop, Dill, Lettuce Leaf Basil, Flat Italian Parsley, Lemon Balm, Bee Balm and a couple of others that I can’t remember at the moment. J

 

Each herb and shrub has been mulched with either pine bark mulch, cypress mulch or leaf mulch depending on which it prefers.  It will be such a joy to watch this area begin to grow and fill in.  I do hope that you will visit often to watch the progress with us. Part of this page will be some of the crafts and recipes which we use the herbs for.  I want to keep a regular monthly update so that you can see how you can use herbs to improve your life in so many ways.

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see by the pictures above, we are beginning to see some fruit from our labors.  The wattle fence is so nice and rustic looking on the end of the herb bed nearest the house, but the lovely white arbor and fence at the road side of the herb bed really makes it look grand.  On one side of the arbor I have planted a Yellow Climbing Rose, that was a cutting I took from our home in Talladega and on the other side is a Confederate Jasmine, that I also took a cutting from.  The Jasmine is special to us because it is a memorial of our dear friend Kevin Byrd who passed away several years ago from cancer.  When we went to his funeral, the jasmine was in bloom and it scented the air like heaven.  We will always think of him when we see it. 

 

You can see that one side of the garden is bordered with lovely ornamental sunflowers that are now blooming.  They are just gorgeous and the bees are very happy with them as well.  Sure do wish you could join us in the evening as we walk through the garden and smell the lovely aroma of all the different herbs.