Ruffles of green-leaf lettuce boldly planted in clusters alternate with red 'Royal Oak Leaf' lettuce, giving a decorative flounce to a bed. The herbs I started by planting the circular bed at the entrance to the garden with only the basic culinary herbs. Over the years, I've added ornamental herbs, scented geraniums, roses, and salvias. Looking for more color among the greens of the herbs, I dressed the center of the herb garden with four 'Simplicity' rose bushes, massing ruffles of sweet alyssum and lavender at their feet. I chose the roses for their strong constitutions, as no chemical sprays are allowed in any of our gardens.
Many herbs are beautiful enough to jump the fence from the herb garden into the flower border.
Lavender and catmint are welcomed everywhere. The flowers of chives I also find beautiful, but because of their onion breath, I leave them behind with the culinary herbs. The vines Flowering vines have crept into my garden over the last few years. Vining vegetables and flowering vines twine up and over the fence and up the trellises together. Vines draw your eyes up, adding a vertical dimension to the garden.