These mid June days are quite something aren’t they. The light catches everything so beautifully, and the garden is alive with birds, buzzing and - yes - the occasional passing bike. I think I’m going to wander out now and again and pick a plant or a corner to show you - a window into this new garden - where I hope to put some of the lessons I learnt on the 17 acres of Otter Farm into practice in a regular garden.
After the warm welcome to your umbrella, Mark, this herbal introduction is a great way to start. I can feel a trip to Norfolk Herbs coming on and that's just on your first recommendation!
Our singular patch of mint is right by the back door and held (relatively) in check by a complimentary rose. The mint was one of the many plants that we managed to bring with us when we moved home. I'm not sure what variety it is, as it was given to us by our neighbour, one of two sisters who lived on either side of us.
Both Joan and 'Bill', now sadly departed, were still digging for England but Joan was the real collector of the two. I still regret not taking a clump of her giant chives that used to be a regular in our kitchen -alongside all sorts of treasures that would suddenly appear on our back step.
Got both of them thanks to you and your herb book in fact I’ve now 7 or 8 different mints all in pots though! May I suggest that a long stem of mint is a different touch in a bouquet of flowers too? As I’ve offered a friend to do wedding flowers this October ( never done this before!!) I’m all about what I can place in a vase or hand tied bouquets or even a bit of mint in a buttonhole would be very nice for a Highland wedding!
My cat goes absolutely insane for this and killed one by rolling over it so much until there was nothing left of the poor thing, I have to grow it in a pot out of her reach now
Agastache foeniculum is one of my fav plants! Such a useplants that the pollinators adore - so striking. I have grown the golden form too, for the contrast between the yellowy leaves and the deep violet flowers.
One thing to be aware of, the new leaves in the spring can look a bit like nettle. So if you have a garden where nettle tends to invade areas where it should not, take care. I mark my dotted plants so that I do not have any lovey scented casualties dueing spring clearances.
I get very confused between this and Korean mint. I have Korean mint (thanks to your advice and bought, OF COURSE, from Otter Farm!) and it looks exactly like this. So, what's the difference and, if I have and already love KM, should I also get Anise hyssop? (Btw, yesterday I made your herb shortbread with KM sugar. It's supposed to be for a dinner party on Saturday but I'm not sure it will make it that far...)
After the warm welcome to your umbrella, Mark, this herbal introduction is a great way to start. I can feel a trip to Norfolk Herbs coming on and that's just on your first recommendation!
Our singular patch of mint is right by the back door and held (relatively) in check by a complimentary rose. The mint was one of the many plants that we managed to bring with us when we moved home. I'm not sure what variety it is, as it was given to us by our neighbour, one of two sisters who lived on either side of us.
Both Joan and 'Bill', now sadly departed, were still digging for England but Joan was the real collector of the two. I still regret not taking a clump of her giant chives that used to be a regular in our kitchen -alongside all sorts of treasures that would suddenly appear on our back step.
Well we will see if it’s a good idea when the wedding comes , who knows a new trend maybe set ?
Got both of them thanks to you and your herb book in fact I’ve now 7 or 8 different mints all in pots though! May I suggest that a long stem of mint is a different touch in a bouquet of flowers too? As I’ve offered a friend to do wedding flowers this October ( never done this before!!) I’m all about what I can place in a vase or hand tied bouquets or even a bit of mint in a buttonhole would be very nice for a Highland wedding!
My cat goes absolutely insane for this and killed one by rolling over it so much until there was nothing left of the poor thing, I have to grow it in a pot out of her reach now
Hello!
Agastache foeniculum is one of my fav plants! Such a useplants that the pollinators adore - so striking. I have grown the golden form too, for the contrast between the yellowy leaves and the deep violet flowers.
One thing to be aware of, the new leaves in the spring can look a bit like nettle. So if you have a garden where nettle tends to invade areas where it should not, take care. I mark my dotted plants so that I do not have any lovey scented casualties dueing spring clearances.
Thank you for such a tempting introduction to this plant . Could I put this in a herbaceous bed as a companion for roses ?
I get very confused between this and Korean mint. I have Korean mint (thanks to your advice and bought, OF COURSE, from Otter Farm!) and it looks exactly like this. So, what's the difference and, if I have and already love KM, should I also get Anise hyssop? (Btw, yesterday I made your herb shortbread with KM sugar. It's supposed to be for a dinner party on Saturday but I'm not sure it will make it that far...)
Is it hardy or do you protect in winter?