The dooryard herb garden

Flower & Garden Magazine, April-May, 1985 by Faith H. Swanson, Virginia B. Rady

"Lilliputian" might come to mind at first sight of this garden. The image would soon give way to other considerations, however. The garden is conveniently located. An extremely small space -- six feet by ten feet -- makes narrow paths a necessity. Even in limited space, however, rules of good design can be observed with circles or an arc to soften the more severe rectangles or squares. Only the width of the paths needs to be sacrificed. Herbs grown especially for fragrance may be substituted for the culinary herbs, and the plan could be used at a front door. It would be a refreshing change from the standard foundation planting so commonly used. Then the design might need to be expanded, making the beds larger and the paths wider, still observing a scale.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The book from which this design was excerpted contains 51 plans for herb gardens ranging from simple to elaborate, small to large. It is the first book devoted entirely to herbe garden designs. They were contributed by landscape architects and members of the Herb Society of America, representing actual gardens in many parts of the U.S. and Canada. The authors, both of Ohio, are long experienced herb growers. They undertook this book, which consumed seven years, undr sponsorship of the Herb Society of America. The design shown here is from their group headed "For the Novice."

KEY TO PLANTS 1. Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa, French tarragon 2. Salvia officinalis, garden sage 3. Thymus 'Broad-leaf English,' English thyme 4. Thymus x citriodorus, lemon thyme 5. Satureja hortensis, summer savory 6. Ocimum basilicum, sweet basil 7. Anethum graveolens 'Bouquet,' dill 8. Origanum marjorana, sweet marjoram 9. Origanum heracleoticum, Greek oregano 10. Petroselinum crispum, parsley 11. Allium schoenoprasum, chive 12. Tropaeolum majus, nasturtium 13. Poterium sanguisorba, salad burnet 14. Levisticum officinale, lovage 15. Mentha spicata, spearmint 16. Taxus cuspidata, Japanese yew 17. Chionanthus virginicus, fringe tree