Saturday, March 7, 2015

Herbs...Potagers & Spring Gardens



Last week the weather was perfect here for shopping the local farmer's markets for fresh herbs...Since we had a very cool February, my herb pots needed to be replanted...I was able to find every herb you can imagine and planted them in my small herb garden and in an old fruit crate...I also found the herb spoons which I love, to add to the charm of the garden. I have always been fascinated by the kitchen gardens or potagers in Europe. A "potager" is a French term for an ornamental vegetable or kitchen garden. The historical design precedent is from the Gardens of the French Renaissance and Baroque Garden à la française eras. Often flowers...edible and non-edible...and herbs are planted with the vegetables to enhance the garden's beauty...the goal is to make the function of providing food aesthetically pleasing.
Plants are chosen as much for their functionality as for their color and shape and most are trained to grow upward. A well-designed potager can provide food, as well as cut flowers and herbs for the home with very little maintenance. Potagers can disguise their function of providing for a home in a wide array of forms—from the carefree style of the cottage garden to the formality of a knot garden. I love the look of a knot garden of herbs...I also would love to grow edible flowers. I am working on creating a small potager this Spring...In the meantime I would love to share with you some of my fave ways to use herbs... my fave gardens & potagers....and I also want to wish each of you an early Spring...
Potager in the countryside of France...
Fragrant bundles of rosemary & sage...
Beautiful with flowers & herbs...
This week at Rue 27 Maison...
Herbs de Provence...lavande...rosemary, thyme & more
Garden cloche, herbs & vegetables...
Beautiful country knot garden...
Love the glass garden cloches in this garden...
Simple pots of rosemary look stunning on this burlap runner...
Love the herbs & flowers by the door to welcome guests...
A basket full of herbs for the kitchen...
An English manor garden from Clive Nichols...
Love this formal knot garden of herbs & flowers in the courtyard of a London townhouse...
This simple zinc carrier looks beautiful with the rich greens of the herbs...
Vegetables...herbs & edible flowers...
A charming English knot garden at the rear of a country chapel...
Thyme...simple & beautiful in a vintage pot...


Until Next time... Cheers!

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