The Herb Garden

One of my goals this year was to start an herb garden. I don't have enough time to take care of a larger vegetable garden, but I really wanted to have fresh herbs, and I always will remember Mom's wonderful-smelling herb garden.

Last fall I converted one of the few sunny spots of our backyard to a flower/herb bed. The previous owner had left a mound of daylilies here, as if they had dug them out of the ground and then didn't know what to do with them. J. and Dad cut back the cedar tree on the other side of the fence to bring in some more light. I spaded the area and installed the border. The soil here is hideous clay, so I added humic material. We planted some of the rescued daylilies along the fence, then added a weigela and a few other perennials. Mom provided chives and sedum from her garden.

My plan was to start herb seeds indoors and than transfer outside. However, I was a little busier than I projected this winter, mainly due to an opportunity at work that was too good to miss. When the weather turned unseasonably warm in March, I assumed winter was over and thought, "Well, heck, just throw the seeds in the ground." A respectable plan, until the freeze. Although nothing had sprouted when the temperatures dropped that week, the poor little seedlings probably never stood a chance.

So, I decided I'd replace what I'd lost with potted herbs. Photo from last night:

It's mostly mulched now, just a few spots by the fence. The bare spots on the ground are the few seedlings that did survive (marjoram, thyme, and catnip) plus a couple species for which I haven't found the replacements (tarragon and lemon balm).

I think I have gone a little crazy trying to fill in all the gaps with something green. J. now longer allows me to go to Lowes without a chaperone. I added a few annuals (marigolds and lantana) for some color and I couldn't resist a blue-eyed grass plant. And there are some perennials on the edges of the garden (out of frame) that I didn't photograph and I won't admit to.

Labelled version of photo:

I've been targeting culinary herbs plus herbs that are supposed to have mosquito repellant oils. I've read that you can run your hands through catnip or lemon balm and other herbs and fend off (partially) the bites.

So, that's where it stands. Can't wait to see what it looks like in a month or two.