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Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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Posted by lavender_lass WA zone 4 (My Page) on Mon, Oct 26, 09 at 21:04
| I posted this question on herb and antique rose forums, but you all have been so helpful with other questions, I thought I would post here too :)
My Mom (zone 5) wants to have a Mediterranean style herb garden with a few roses, lavender and culinary/tea herbs. Her garden is 13' x 4' in front of her kitchen window on the south side of the house. The bed has good drainage and she has a yellow house. What roses (2 or 3) would you recommend for her garden? She likes damask/old rose fragrance, but has cold winters and very warm summers. Any ideas? I want to get her the roses for her Christmas present.
Also would appreciate ideas for the herbs or any other suggestions you have....thank you! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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- Posted by susanc Z9/Sunset 17 CA (My Page) on
Tue, Oct 27, 09 at 12:05
| It sounds like Buck roses would do very well for her. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Buck roses
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| Lavender - for roses, try checking out Pickering Nurseries which is located here in Ontario. I don't mean to push their products but it's for your information only. The site shows what kinds of roses can withstand cold winters. Remember that some roses are grafted so they can endure our deep freezes. Herbs: for certain, Thyme, sage, parsley. of course, Lavender and rosemary. A bouquet garnee (spelling) is a contrast of thyme, parsley and bay. Although bays will not survive our winters, I grew one in a pot which now towers over me. It's a perfect indoor plant and can be brought out in early summer when the weather permits. I've seen olive trees but have no experience trying them out as indoor plants. Also, I've seen fig trees here which are a mainstay in Italian gardens. However again I've no experience with them as indoor plants. |
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| Susanc- I have read that Buck roses do well in cold winters. Since Mom is in zone 5 (while I'm two miles away and in zone 4) she has been able to grow many more types of roses than I have. Ianna- I will check Pickering, but so far Mom has had pretty good success with her hybrid teas (with winter protection). If anything, the south garden is a little too hot for them in the summer. A bouquet garnee sounds like a great idea. I know she wants to include lavender and rosemary, but a bay plant is a great idea. :) Thanks for the suggestions! |
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| Ianna - I bought my Italian plum trees from an Ottawa Italian taxi driver. Gorgeous purple plums!! He has huge fig trees, which he has on wheeled bases, and rolls in and out of his garage. I should have asked if he heated the garage. I also has the most enormous Rosemary bush I have ever seen - almost the size of VW Bug!!! Also on wheels. I also remember many years ago seeing a gardening show showing a fig tree grown outside, but laid down and tented/insulated, somewhere in TO. |
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| Be careful about combining roses and herbs - they do not necessarily share the same growing requirements and planting them close together can cause problems for one or the other. For example, herbs like rosemary, lavender and thymes prefer very lean soil and minimal watering. OTOH, roses like very fertile soil and lots of water to produce all those gorgeous blooms. If one is happy, the other will not be. One can often get the two to combine successfully if there is sufficient distance apart so that the needed fertilization and watering of the roses doesn't negatively affect the more xeric loving herbs. |
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| I do have roses (David Austens) planted close to lavenders and thyme with no ill effects. The key is proper drainage. I haven't seen them compete for nutrients either so I don't think the combination would be too bad. The most adaptable lavender I know is the munstead or the angustafolia type. As for thyme, the only thing about thyme is my constant need to trim them back. They are spreaders but not aggressive ones. They will look wild if not periodically trimmed. |
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| I think the roses and herbs will be fine together, since one side of the bed has much better drainage. That's where she's planning to put the herbs that need less water. David Austens with lavender and thyme sound pretty together :) |
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| old french roses are a favorite of mine. I like bourbon roses partcularly. Also I like old world type roses like albas and gallica. DAvid Austens are modern but with old world feel to it. Too bad I left behind my bourbon Louise Odier when I relocated. |
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| Not an idea for the herbs or roses per se, but wouldn't a rose/herb garden look so nice edged with germander? |
RE: Mediterranean herb garden ideas
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| great idea. Germander looks particularly excellent especially if you trim it to look like a hedge. |
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