The Magic of the Multitasking Garden
As the cold darkness of winter sets in, you will often find me by the fire, browsing seed catalogues, dreaming of next year’s garden. The blustery and snowy days of this time of year are the perfect opportunity to start planning your beds for the spring season and I’m hoping I can convince you to add some of my favourite botanicals to your property.
I love the notion and concept of the multitasking garden. What do I mean by this? I am referring the idea that our gardens can both be beautiful and useful! Many of my favourite medicinal herbs are stunning perennials that would be a showstopper in any garden. Have you ever seen, or smelled, the divine blooms of Valerian? Known for its sedative properties, many people are unaware how absolutely lovely these flowers are. Pollinator friendly plants such as Bee Balm, Black-Eyed Susan and Echinacea also boast useful medicinal properties and are worthy of entrance into any flower bed. Chamomile and Thyme make lovely low-lying plants that can serve as edgings and borders, as well as being useful in the kitchen and teapot.
So, as you plan out your new flower beds for next year, I encourage you to think beyond the garden centre basics. Where can you add in medicinals? How about pollinators? Allow our gardens to become eco-systems that are pleasing to the eye, helpful to the insects, and useful in our apothecaries.
Correne Omland, Clinical Herbalist & Reiki Practitioner
Spiraea Herbal Clinic + Apothecary
