Nothing is so beautiful as the well-planned HERB garden-with Artemesias, Tansies, and Roses lining the back borders; while Violets, Burnet, and Germander border the front. We have seen examples of gardens like these with groupings of color, size and texture. We know about themed HERB gardens.
We know that many of our favorite herbs can also be brought inside to scent and decorate our homes. What we may not realize, is that most of the HERBS we see in public gardens are hardy perennials. Once planted, they will be with us for many years. Decorative HERBS like Lavender, Bergamot, Artemisia, Germander, Lovage, and Santolina define borders and add leafy color and texture. Flowering HERBS like Yarrow, Angelica, Anise Hyssop, Betony, Borage, Calendula, Dittany, Dill, Iris, Salvia, Sweet Cicely, Sweet Woodruff, Tansey, Valerian, Vervain, and Violet paint the landscape with color. HERBS like Adjuga, Roman Chamomile, Fassen's Catnip, Sweet Woodruff, Thyme, and Yarrow make splendid ground-covers. You can sew the Catnip, Chamomile, Thyme, and Yarrow lawns from seed. www.Richters.com
Having a lawn of HERBS- what a luscious idea! And wouldn't it be lovely to be able to see your garden at night- beneath the moon? By planting silver or grey-leafed Artemisia, Curry, French Thyme, Lamb's Ear, Lavender, Mullein, Sage, Santolina, Silver Thyme and Yarrow; blue-leafed Rue; and white-flowered Sweet Cicely you can extend your garden viewing through the night. Although HERBS do not like wet feet, there are those, like Marshmallow, Sweet Flag, Chervil, Meadowsweet, Lobelia, Lemon Balm, Water Mint, Bog Myrtle and Bogbean, Watercress, French Sorrel, and White Willow that will acclimate to a wet spot. Shady spots will foster Dead Nettle, Foxglove, Violets, Lemon Balm, Costmary, Chervil, Salad Burnet, and Tarragon. Topiaries- to punctuate the HERB garden-can be fashioned from woody-stemmed HERBS into balls, spirals, and cones. They may be set onto frames, espaliered, and stuffed with spagnum moss. HERBS suited for topiary formation are: Rosemary, Santolina, Lemon Geranium, Lavender, Bay Laurel, and Boxwood. Companion planting with HERBS works in concert with nature to produce heartier, more prolific gardening. Planting HERBS throughout your garden, attracts pollinators, deters pests, and in some cases lures unwanted pests to their own nectars. Purposefully landscaping with HERBS is sensible, economic, and beneficial to the total garden ecosystem.