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One of the great pleasures of walking into the garden on a warm day is its scent.
The attractions of herbs are many. Most are easy to grow and tolerate poor soil, drought, and either full or partial sun, making them an ideal option for Bahrain's hot climate.
In addition, there is great satisfaction in stepping out into the garden to snip fresh herbs for summer salads or pasta dishes, or to make basting brushes for barbecues.
Leaf smells are given off freely by plants such as cypresses, eucalypts, lemon and verbena, but most are stimulated by a gentle brushing or when splashed with water. It's not surprising that most gardeners grow at least one or two herbs.
Herbs grow well in geometric patterns
If you want a traditional herb garden, create symmetrical beds divided by paths made of bricks, gravel, flagstones, or even grass. Use a combination of beds and paths to create an interesting geometric pattern, such as triangles with a diamond bed in the center or arches in the corners and square beds in the centre.
Another motif for a traditional herb garden design is a round bed divided into sections like sliced pie. Plant each section with a different herb or with a combination of herbs that fit well together. Choose an ornament such as a fountain or statue to place in the centre.
Aromatic herbs
Aromatic foliage plants are often native to countries with warm climates. Herbs such as rosemary are better grown in containers so that they are dug up and taken inside during cold weather. The aromatic Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) is a particular stylish container subject that can be clipped into a neat shape or trained as a standard and used as a decorative feature.
Scented-leaved pelargoniums make good informal hedges along the path or in island beds. The beautiful, textured peppermint-scented Pelargonium (Pelargonium tomentosum), with its rich green velvety leaves, just begs to be touched.
To create pleasing blocks of contrasting colour and texture use fragrant silvery plants. The eucalypts are undoubtedly the most important trees with aromatic foliage and a few provide essential oils. The lemon-scented Gum (Eucalyptus citriodora) has strongly aromatic leaves whose scent on a hot summer days permeates the air over a wide area.
It also has a beautiful white trunk. This species is grown commercially for its lemon-scented oil, which contains citronella. Other good lemony fragrance comes from Lemon Verbena (Aloysia teiphylla), Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) and lemon-scented Pelargonium ( Pelargonium crispum).
Plant edible herbs near the kitchen
Grow edible herbs in a kitchen dooryard garden so they are easy to harvest for cooking. These herbs such as basil, sage, mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme, bay, oregano, lovage and fennel are well-known kitchen garden herbs, all with attractive foliage.
All these herbs grow well in containers. If the space near your kitchen door is paved, grow the herbs in pots combined in attractive clusters.
They can also be useful for borders and along walkways in your garden where you can stroll among the plants and touch them regularly. Small carpeting plants such as creeping thymes can be allowed to grow on paths and between gaps in paving, providing fragrance and softness underfoot. Fennel adds a lacy accent and the tall stalks of lovage a casual architectural element. On the whole, herbs prefer sunnier sites, with protection from strong winds.
Herb gardens were planted by monks and nuns in mediaeval cloisters. The herb gardens were known as physic gardens, and the plants grown were ones known to have properties for healing.
The tradition of herb gardens devoted solely to the diverse range of plants we classify as herbs continues to this day, and the results are delightful.
