Garden Panache

Historically, gardens have been a place of beauty and relaxation, in addition to a source of food. While no one could deny the beauty of the ruffled edges of a red leaf lettuce or the glossy sheen of a pepper, gardens can be much more than vegetables. Cottage gardens and formal gardens around the world have traditionally featured a balance of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. Why should the modern urban garden be any different? Well in truth, they shouldn’t. Herbs and flowers add beauty, attract pollinators and other beneficial insects, and can add scrumptious flavors in the kitchen. Even if space is limited, there are a few herbs and flowers that no garden would be complete without.

Archway of apple trees at Pittmeden, U.K.

There are herbs for every palette, dish and garden space. I like to keep a variety of fresh herbs close by, from common sage to thyme. If you include no other herbs to your garden, you should at least add basil, chives and a pot of lemon grass. All three can easily be grown in containers and are readily found as seed or transplants. The lemon grass and basil are tender perennials and will need to be treated as an annual or brought indoors for the winter. Chives are hardy and will thrive in the Midwest. A pot is recommended for chives however, since they can easily spread. In my experience basil is easy to star from seed, but lemon grass can be a bit more challenging.

Beneficial insects like this wasp are attracted to diversified gardens and can help control pest insects

If you want to be a bit more adventurous and include other herbs, rosemary, sage, parsley, savory (winter and summer), marjoram, mint, oregano, and thyme are other good options for beginners. These herbs have a variety of uses and can be used as solo flavors or in combination for sweet and savory drinks and foods. An extension bulletin from Purdue has some additional recommendations. My favorite part of herbs in my garden (besides having fresh herbs) is the delicate scents their foliage adds to my garden. I often find myself rubbing a sprig of thyme or a sage leaf while I’m weeding the garden beds.

Notice the nicely rounded mounds of herbs in this garden

Another spot of beauty in your garden are flowers. Besides adding bright spots of color and attracting beneficial insects, flowers can also be a delicious addition to the garden. There are a number of edible flowers that can fit into any space. Be sure to double check before eating any though, as some flowers are toxic. Colorado State University has a handy list of edible (and toxic) flowers. Most of my edible flowers are perennials: borage, bee balm, pansy, roses, etc. But I truly love some of the annual edibles. Begonias are possibly my favorite edible flower. They are tart and tangy and have a hint of citrus to them. Another good option is common Nasturtium. Nasturtiums have a bit of spiciness or peppery tang to them. If you add a few flowers to your next garden salad this summer, you’ll be amazed that you didn’t try it sooner.

Research has shown that native bees are excellent pollinators. You don't need to buy a hive, just plant a nice variety and you'll see plenty of native bees in your garden.

Most herbs and flowers can be started indoors or direct sown. So go ahead, take a chance this year, and include a bit more variety into that garden!

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/herbs/ne208hrb.htm

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-28.pdf

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/tog/herbs.cfm

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07237.html