How does my garden grow?

[carolf]

I'm trying to figure it out, myself.

Thanks to all for the helpful comments on my Anti-Lawn entry.  Some of you [waves at Eva] really gave me lots to chew on.  So I think you deserve your own entry, rather than just a return comment.

Comments

[wyld_dandelyon]

So far, herbs that seem to do well, once established, just about anywhere (including in shade) include any mint (this would be a good one to put in a small plot surrounded by concrete, if you don't want it wandering; we have come to enjoy the scent of mint when mowing the lawn as it's perfectly happy invading same), lemon balm, which is also called melissa, (I have found lemon balm tea eases muscle cramps of various sorts); oregano & chives. I'm sure there's others. Basil seems to absolutely need sun, and though I've had established sage survive being over shaded by other plants, when I've tried to put new-bought plants in shady spots, that hasn't worked, so far at least. Hmm...what else have I grown...I've tried a bunch of things that did ok for one season, but didn't survive the Milwaukee winter.

When I make lemon balm tea, I use lemon balm, spearmint (I usually prefer the taste of peppermint, but spearmint blends better with the lemon balm) and since moving to this house, rose petals, which add a nice delicate flavor. Sometimes chammomile or red clover or thyme or other stuff, to taste. It's best when I make it as "green tea" which is also the term for tea made with fresh-picked herbs instead of dried ones.

Lilacs are very nice. Did you know the flowers are edible? I got interested in edible flowers a while back, which led to me figuring out why I don't like beer! But so far, I haven't had the heart to pick the flowers to do something like make pancakes with them, it's so nice to HAVE them outside, finally, at the end of winter.

[carolf]

I did not know lilacs are edible. I know about violets, though (another candidate for our "lawn" -- at least as a border) and love to accent a salad with them.

The reason I want a cutting garden is specifically so I don't feel so badly about taking the flowers for the house. I dream of having season-appropriate displays in my home.

Until I have it, though, I've finally reached a stage where I just take them. The spring flowers only last so long, in any case. They may as well be where I can see, appreciate and enjoy them.