Sharon, I would love to transform you into the little girl under the poppies - then you might help me figure out how to actually use all these herbs I am slowly learning how to grow...

Arlene, the black soil is a top-dressing compost that I put on after I weed everything. I've been doing so for quite a few years and the under soil is showing a definite improvement, not as black as the compost but still a nice dark loamy brown.

Here's another section all cleaned up - what I call the witch's corner (or more often the b-word), with plants that are helpful for various female complaints: lady's mantle, yarrow, motherswort, evening primrose, sea holly, sweet cicely, pasque flower. I initially planted snakeroot behind the bench, but it was too much sun.

I really like that bench.

Beautiful garden

I've tried and tried to grow sea holly but it's just not happy here

Sounds like you already know what to do with all those herbs, my friend!
Beautiful beautiful gardens. I can just close my eyes and smell the scents.

Debra, when we bought the bench it was untreated wood. I wanted a pop in the garden and went to our local lumber store for stain. The nice young fellow waiting on me questioned me twice if I really wanted him to mix it up before I convinced him that yes I did in fact want a deep purple stain. Silly guy, I love my purple bench!

Sharon, so far my knowledge is only what I've read -- you are light years ahead of me in practical knowledge thanks to your wonderful aunt.

Vic, sometimes I think it is wise to leave plants alone that don't (for whatever reason) want to grow for you. I live in prime rhododendron country and cannot grow a decent shrub to save my soul (azaleas do better for me). So, I just drive around in mid-spring and admire all of the rhodies that surround me. Sea holly is beautiful, but can sure pack a prick if you're not careful.

I am that way with Gaillardias. Want to kill one quick? Give it to me. But I really like them.

Gorgeous corner. Love the Lady's Mantle.

So, can someone tell me what to use Rue for, other than bug repellent around roses? I have been using for cut flowers in the spring since I find them to be very interesting, although a bit stinky to my nose.

Used to be used as a tonic to prevent plagues, but mostly it was considered magic and was used to ward off evil diseases and evil spirits

I think it might be toxic if much is used and some are allergic to it, so mostly now it's an insect repellent. At one time it was dried and sprinkled around the house to keep fleas out and somebody recently mentioned that it might be used to get rid of bed bugs. That was in reference to the big bed bug epidemic that was happening a few years ago.

I also read somewhere that it is used sparingly as a sort of musky flavoring for things like eggs or egg salad.

The only thing I know for sure is that the older ladies in my family dried it and used it to keep creepy crawly things out of cabinets and attics.

Oh, I may try drying some then, we have LOTS of bugs here in the south, the only thing so far I have found I don't like down here and I'm not really squeamish, but there are just so many of them EVERYWHERE!!! (In the house) I don't mind them outside.

Luck, Arlene - it's just an old time prevention, I guess. I hadn't thought of that in years. Thanks for the reminder; I hope it works on Georgia bugs!

Well, since I have quite a bit of both bugs and the rue it's worth a try anyway. I'll let you know if I get around to it and if I see a difference.

Deb ...I don't know what it is with men and purple ... taint seen a man that like purple since Prince
Arlen you haven't seen bugs until you visit my back yard, everything is flying around out there. There thousands of these little black bugs on the ground and there are little green bugs that have on a suit of armor, moths and mosquitoes and Lo and behold there is a Hornet's nest right out side my back door.. I am going to start coming in the front door and park my car on the street. I hate the summer!

Sylvia, I'm not too fond of the summer residents around here, either, but trade it off for not having to use a snow shovel in winter.

omg DEBRA, you are right up the road or down the road Its great to see a Texan so close. I am between NWH & Walnut.
You must be from the north, talking about shoveling snow.lol ! I got a email to go to a mayoral town hall meeting last night, I thought I was talking to Dallas until I saw Anthony Wiener name.in NY I got so excited, i told her I wish I had never left New York or Connecticut and did she think I was too old to come back. When it snowed last winter I was out taking pictures, every body here thought I was crazy, of course.

Close to Garland High School off Garland Avenue, so we aren't too far apart.

Born in South Bend, Indiana and lived in Colorado for a few years as a kid. Had my share of snow shoveling. I may melt in summer, but it's better than becoming a popsicle in winter.

Bonehead said:

Aromatic section: Melissa, sage, lavender, lemon verbena, pinks, curry plant. Horseradish at the junction, with dill planted to the left but not yet coming up.

What do you use the curry plant for? We've been growing this herb, and I love the way it smells, but I'm not sure what to do with it!

So far, I just crumble it in the hands and enjoy the fragrance. I have read, however, that you can add it to dishes to give a slight curry flavor (not as strong as actual curry spices). I'm making pineapple rice tonight, perhaps I'll add a bit to that and see what it does.

Yes, we've added it to soups and things, but it's really not strong enough to make a difference. Rice is a good idea though!

I've been exploring some of the other forums and just found this one and had to comment on your lovely herb garden Deb. Very very nice

How do you keep the herbs from taking over everything. My experience with some of them is that they can be invasive. I have lemon balm coming up everywhere.

Cindy, it is my experience that most herbs are both huge and invasive. I just keep a tight rein on them and only allow them where they have a designated spot. Some are worse than others - lemon balm and vervain are particularly eager to join everyone's party. Some I let grow sparingly wherever they land - feverfew for a white pop here and there, borage for the bees but I only allow one every 10 feet in any direction, and sweet annie for her lovely fragrance. I also let calendula naturalize amongst all the beds, but again I pull the majority of them. Still a work in progress, and this year I had some outside issues that needed attending to and the herb garden is in a bit of disarray -- but will recover for next season. You really can't kill any of these thugs.