More plants
I just posted the following cut on my period herb garden web page, which is now updated and ready.
I know I promised it days ago. It's hard to build web pages when you're head-down in the garden all the time.
I've now got about 18 feet or 60% of the area of the bed dug. In the past few days, I've added sempervivum, hyssop, winter savory, spearmint, heartsease, viola odorata, Greek oregano, rue, Roman chamomile, yarrow, and the Madonna lily from Easter. Angelica, melissa, and lovage remain to be planted.
Some notes on the varieties:
I'm basing my plant selections on Sylvia Landsberg whom I consider authoratative. Her selections are somwhat more conservative than, say, the Cloister's gardens. I've noticed some plants in the Cloisters gardens (Tania Bayard, Sweet Herbs and Sundry Flowers: Medieval Gardens and the Gardens of the Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1997) don't seem to jive with either Landsberg or with Gerard. (John Gerard, The Herball, or General Historie of Plants, London, 1633).
Yarrow: I was pretty sure it was period, but it's not listed in either Landsberg or Gerard. It's not going to go to waste, because I have other areas in my yard where yarrow will be a sturdy flower.
Lavender: is probably not a period variety. Landsberg lists L. augustifolia, L. stoechas, L. officinalis, and L. spica as period varities. I'll probably change it out at some point.
Oregano: here's a head-scratcher. I have an oregano identified as origanum vulgare hirtum, which is clearly Greek oregano. And then there's one called "Oregano Italiano", which as far as I can tell, doesn't really mean anything. The leaves of the "Italian oregano" are lighter green in color, and have a more bitter flavor than those of O. vulgare hirtum. A little research indicates that "Italian" oregano is a cross of oregano and marjoram. I'm not sure that this is what I really have, but maybe as it blooms I'll be better able to identify it. In any case, the only oregano that is listed by Landsberg is O. vulgare, which would seem to indicate that my Greek stuff is pretty close. However, she gives the common name of Origan or Wild Marjoram to it, adding to my confusion. Gerard lists marjoram, but not oregano.
In addition to the above-mentioned plants, I'm trying to grow some seeds. My little pots have viola odorata, columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris, not the Colorado varity), some black violas like seen in the detail below, borage, and foxgloves. I'm terrible growing things from seed. So we'll see what happens.
On the other side of the garden, I'm planning space for some fava beans and some red and white carrots.
I know I promised it days ago. It's hard to build web pages when you're head-down in the garden all the time.
I've now got about 18 feet or 60% of the area of the bed dug. In the past few days, I've added sempervivum, hyssop, winter savory, spearmint, heartsease, viola odorata, Greek oregano, rue, Roman chamomile, yarrow, and the Madonna lily from Easter. Angelica, melissa, and lovage remain to be planted.
Some notes on the varieties:
I'm basing my plant selections on Sylvia Landsberg whom I consider authoratative. Her selections are somwhat more conservative than, say, the Cloister's gardens. I've noticed some plants in the Cloisters gardens (Tania Bayard, Sweet Herbs and Sundry Flowers: Medieval Gardens and the Gardens of the Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1997) don't seem to jive with either Landsberg or with Gerard. (John Gerard, The Herball, or General Historie of Plants, London, 1633).
Yarrow: I was pretty sure it was period, but it's not listed in either Landsberg or Gerard. It's not going to go to waste, because I have other areas in my yard where yarrow will be a sturdy flower.
Lavender: is probably not a period variety. Landsberg lists L. augustifolia, L. stoechas, L. officinalis, and L. spica as period varities. I'll probably change it out at some point.
Oregano: here's a head-scratcher. I have an oregano identified as origanum vulgare hirtum, which is clearly Greek oregano. And then there's one called "Oregano Italiano", which as far as I can tell, doesn't really mean anything. The leaves of the "Italian oregano" are lighter green in color, and have a more bitter flavor than those of O. vulgare hirtum. A little research indicates that "Italian" oregano is a cross of oregano and marjoram. I'm not sure that this is what I really have, but maybe as it blooms I'll be better able to identify it. In any case, the only oregano that is listed by Landsberg is O. vulgare, which would seem to indicate that my Greek stuff is pretty close. However, she gives the common name of Origan or Wild Marjoram to it, adding to my confusion. Gerard lists marjoram, but not oregano.
In addition to the above-mentioned plants, I'm trying to grow some seeds. My little pots have viola odorata, columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris, not the Colorado varity), some black violas like seen in the detail below, borage, and foxgloves. I'm terrible growing things from seed. So we'll see what happens.
On the other side of the garden, I'm planning space for some fava beans and some red and white carrots.