Herb Garden

26 comments:

 My vegetable garden is a large area of raised beds, 
fruit trees, grape vines and of course lots of vegetables and herbs
 I have six raised beds made from stacked stones all found here on our property.  
Each bed is about 8 x 10 feet and supplies us with an endless assortment of vegetables 
through out the year.
I usually mix herbs in with the other veggies and still do that 
but I decided is was high time to give the herbs a lovely little spot all to themselves

 I like the idea of adding height to a bed by using pots and barrels.  In fact, I like pots scattered about the yard in interesting ways to keep the garden playful and to add color into the mix.
For those that have read this blog for a while you may remember when I planted the lavender garden. Part of the design was to incorporate these inexpensive wine barrels and fill them with flowers
The barrels are filled with geranium now and bloom almost continually throughout the year 
 The lavender is just about ready for it's first bloom of the year
 Here the geranium filled barrels are peeking above the lavender
OK.....now back to the herb garden
The urn shaped pot in the center is filled with creeping oregano.  It can be planted as an ornamental but you can snip it off and use it in your sauces etc.
Another small decorative idea I used are these 2x2 stakes place in a grid pattern 
and topped with tiny vintage green house pots

The pots actually tend to keep 
the squirrels and raccoons out of the beds
The raccoons have played with the pots on a couple of occasions and I have found them broken in the morning but they have yet to actually climb into the bed and dig around.
I saw this idea on an English gardening website 
and though it was pretty ingenious
The herbs are all placed symmetrically and include 
sage, oregano, lavender, society garlic, rosemary and 3 or 4 varieties of thyme.

Society garlic (tulbaghia) is a perennial with pretty lacy purple flowers.  
The leaves have a really onion-ey smell and can be cut and used in cooking.  
They make a pretty cut flower for arrangements too
The oregano is great in sauces or just tossed into a salad mix

The thyme varieties were planted all along the edge of the bed 
and then criss crossed diagonally
I'm not sure if I will let the thyme spill over the edges 
or try to keep it neat and tidy...what do you think?

Either way...it smells heavenly and it is one of my most favorite cooking herbs.
I have used thyme in my large pots of color along our driveway too 
and it flowers with delicate lavender blossoms that cascades over the edges of the pots.

I really like this herb garden!
You could try this in a very small yard too
or 
how cute would this look along a walk way at your front entry?

Have a great week
&
Happy Gardening



26 comments:
  1. I love the way that you have designed your garden. I love those raised beds with the terra cotta pots interspersed throughout. Your garden looks quite large and it must be quite productive...I look forward to more posts on your garden.
    We have raccoons here too and they dig grubs out of our grass and frolic about with our decorative stainless steel globes...when we wake to find them rearranged we know that the raccoons have been bowling in the garden at night!

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    1. Those pest raccoons can be really a pain...we have had to trap a few and take them off to the National Forest near by. They must have GPS though because they always find their way back

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  2. You always inspire me to try something new. I love your outlook on life and your creative spirit!! I am a neat tidy girl so I would probably trim it, but I think for the way your garden is set up I would let it spill over. Happy Week, gardening!
    Kathysue

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    1. Hi Kathysue...I think I might go neat and tidy too!

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  3. Omg I'm in love with your magical garden!! I wish I had your vision! I especially love your wine barrels with the twig trellis'! Do you know if you can buy those online? Thank you for sharing!! Beautiful!! ~Kathy

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    1. thank you Kathy yes the garden twigs can be found at master gardening products...just google it
      the down side to twig items is that that don't last too long but they look wonderful

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  4. Just found your blog & am already a fan!...I LOVE the idea of the wooden stakes with the small terracotta pots! I live in a rural area & also have little critters wanting to dine on my plants!.....Thank you so much for all your inspiration!......Your friend, Heidi XO

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    1. Hi there Heidi...happy you found me! xo kelley

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  5. Beautiful! I would let it spill over the edges. I have found that I am much more successful with herbs if I grow them in pots, but that could be because of the brutal Texas heat. Adore your gardens!

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    1. Hey Patricia...I love herbs in pots and actually they do very well that way. Many herbs seem to like tight quarters : ))))

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  6. Beautiful! I love your stone raised beds especially.

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    1. thank you jenny. they take time to construct but are a beautiful part of the garden. : O ))

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  7. I'm just getting started on my herb garden. We had a cold April. I'm jealous that you can have this pretty garden all year. Every year I have to start from scratch...so it stays about the same....never gets bigger because it's a complete do over.

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    1. hi there Nita! Starting over each year just lets you get more creative and you probably have your favorites all picked out. cheers

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  8. So pretty! Our garden is not as pretty since we have a high fence all around to keep the little critters and deer out. They are already having fun with our tulips!

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    1. I know those deer are really pesky. It's about the only animal that we don't have around us.

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  9. Kelly, love the Herb bed!!! and the quick garden tour. Your garden is, well, just my favorite!
    It's so beautiful! Since we are just barely touching Spring here, such a treat to soak up your sunshine and green.

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    1. thanks Stacy...your garden is truly one of my favorites. You get the super amazing green thumb award! xo kelley

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  10. beautiful! I too have clay pots upside down on sticks ....but just because I thought it was whimsical! Glad to know there is a purpose!
    Your garden is amazing! Thanks for inspiring!

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    1. Thank you...yes they do help with the critters...who knew?!

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  11. I love your yard in general and have gained inspiration from you, thank you. The herb garden is wonderful, I really like the urn in the center with the oregano. I wanted to ask you, I ordered the willow obelisks from the same company you have given us information on. Do yours breakdown over the winter a bit?
    xo,
    Karen

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    1. Hi Karen, yes they do break down over time. I finally had to toss mine because they just didn't have much structure left. But they do last about 2 years so I think they are worth it. You could probably construct something (DIY) similar with apple or hickory limbs that might last longer.
      ; o )))

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  12. It's fantastic and I have been looking for herb garden ideas. I would go with neat and tidy. I like the spill over look but I let my back yard spill over and then ended up with a big awful mess. Just spent $700 of hard earned money to get it cleaned up because it was out of control!! Your gardens are always an inspiration. Great eye!!

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  13. I have planted my herbs in pots in the past, but seeing your lovely herb plot makes me want to try one of my own! And did I mention how jealous I am of your lavender?! I have tried for 3 years now to get lavender to grow here to no avail...I think I have finally thrown in the towel, well, until I see it at the garden center and think of yours and then try it yet again! ;)

    xo Kat

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