Monday 3 February 2014

PLAN A GARDEN TO BANISH WINTER BLUES. 10 Herbs to Enhance the Flower Bed.

I'm writing this post in the middle of another winter storm. Blizzard conditions and zero visibility have forced most - if not all - of the roads within the four surrounding counties to be closed for the fourth day and it sounds like it may continue for a few days yet. (It did, for an additional three days.) Since we can't  go anywhere, I decided the best thing to do was to ignore the reality of the weather and enjoy some armchair gardening.

I started with a visit to  Wilma's Garden. This site is packed with great, doable ideas for everything from gorgeous gardens to all kinds of unique garden ornaments, signs and information. Its definitely worth a visit. 
Even non-gardeners will enjoy this site with its many ideas for "Healthy Recipes", Quirky Quilts", Scrap Happy", and more. 

I love working with herbs and Wilma's Garden inspired me to start thinking about using them more often to create beauty in my yard. This led to my digging through files for plans for an early American garden, shown above. (I no longer have the source so can't give credit where its due.) Back then gardens needed to serve the dual purpose of beauty and function, something herbs do really well.

I chose the following ten herbs for the garden shown, but they will work just as well in the flower bed, in a border or against a fence. Most of them are easy-care, will bloom right through the summer, add gorgeous scent to the yard, especially in the evening, plus attract hummingbirds, butterflies and beneficial insects. On top of all that, more than half of them can be started from seed, which will keep the cost down.

CENTRE TEEPEE:       
1.     Moonflower Vine Ipomoea, 12ft., Seeds, (A), Sun, Huge White Flowers, Blooms at Night all Summer, Very Fragrant, Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds
2.     Purple Passionflower Vine Passiflora incarnate, 8 to 12ft, Plant, (P) Z6-9, Sun, Purple Flowers Bloom all Summer, Attracts Butterflies.
3.     Dwarf Nasturtiums Tropaeolum minus, 12 in., Seeds, (A), Sun 1/2 Day, Orange mix flowers Bloom all Summer, Living Mulch.
MIDDLE CIRCLE:    
4.   Rugosa Rose Rosa rugosa rubra, 3 to 4' Shrub, Plant, (P) Z3-8, Sun/Pt.Shade, Purple-Red Flowers Bloom in Spring and Late Summer, Aromatic.  
5.  PrimaDonna Echinacea Echinacea purpurea ‘Primadonna Deep Rose, 30” tall, Seeds, (P) Z3-8, Sun, Deep Rose Flowers Bloom all Summer, Aromatic, Attracts Butterflies, Cut Flower. 
6. Hyssop Nectar Blue Hyssopus officinalis ‘Nectar Blue’, 12”-24” SubShrub, Seeds, (P) Z3-9, Sun, Blue Flowers Bloom all Summer, Aromatic, Attracts Bees and Butterflies.
OUTER CIRCLE: 
7. Balsam Impatiens balsamina, 10”-24”, Seeds, (A), Sun/Pt.Shade, Wide Colour Range Flowers Bloom all Summer, Aromatic, Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds. 
 8. Zorba Red Oregano Origanum vulgare ‘Zorba Red’, 36”H-28”Spread, Plant, Sun, Red-Purple Spays with White Flowers Bloom Early Summer through Fall, Aromatic. 
9. Rose-Scented Beebalm Monarda didyma, 30”, Plant, (P) Z4-10, Sun, Lavender Flowers Bloom all Summer, Rose-like Scent. 
10.Red Bergamot Monarda didyma, 30”, Seeds, (P) Z4-10, Sun, Red Flowers Bloom all Summer, Attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.    

Banish the Winter blues - just think Spring.

You can now connect with me on Google+ and LinkedIn or follow me on Twitter.
(I have been trying to add the LinkedIn button, but so far without success. I'll keep trying.)

Talk to you again next week,
Lenie   

2 comments :

  1. hello lenie , got here from your post on linked in , I liked as you have explained about all the herbs u started with , if you can also suggest something for hot environment like here in Saudi Arabia , it will be great for me to read that ... Lookin forward Andleeb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anna
      I don't know about herbs for Saudi Arabia right off, but I love doing research and will certainly see what I can find. Keep watching - I'll update on LinkedIn.
      Lenie

      Delete

I want this blog to be interesting, informative and current. Your comments let me know if I'm on track, so comments are greatly appreciated.
Thanks - Lenie