GREEN PATCH: Design with Herbs

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Now think about color and contrast. Most herbs are either greenor gray-green, and few herbs produce brightly colored flowers. Jazzthings up by adding color plants like red basil, scarlet-stemmedchard or orange nasturtiums. Be bold because the sunny exposuresherbs prefer are no place for extra pastels, which disappear inbright light. To sharpen the contrast, place plants with red leavesor bright flowers next to frosty gray foliage; for example, placered basil alongside helichrysum. Rich red petunias or geraniums dowonders for clumps of lavender.

ALWAYS TRY TO GET SOME KIND OF VERTICAL ACTION GOING,WHICH CREATES MORE VISUAL EXCITEMENT THAN A KNEE-HIGH SEA OFPLANTS.

You can put texture to work to great advantage, too. Forexample, plants with grassy foliage, such as chives, garlic andlemongrass, have a very different texture from leafy lemon balm,which in turn is quite unlike salad burnet in both texture and hue.To make the most of these texture changes without creating a mess,grow like plants together in clumps or drifts, so that one texturegets a fair turn saying “look at me” before the eye moves on to thenext subject. Keeping like plants together also simplifies pruning,dividing and other maintenance chores.

We’re almost done, but we still need a few showy plants thatwill work as focal points — pretty curiosities such as variegatedhorseradish or tricolored sage. Look for plants that keep theirgood looks for a long season because these are your spotlightdancers. In a pinch, a warren of cute concrete bunnies will do.

Play with your design ideas on paper, which is easier than doingit in the dirt.

It’s also wise to keep your design as simple as possible becausehighly structured planting plans, for example knot gardens, limitthe types of plants that can be used, and demand constant upkeep.Above all, remember that your design is a plan, and like all goodplans, it should include a bit of flexibility. Herb gardens changeconstantly, so they are always a work in progress.

Barbara Pleasant is a contributing editor to The Herb Companionand author of several books about gardening, including The WholeHerb (available in our online Bookshelf at www.herbcompanion.com).

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