People seem to be busier than ever today and, with water being a precious resource in many places, we look for sturdy, easy care plants for our landscapes. Many people opt for native plants, and that is definitely a good idea. Native plants save resources, attract native and migratory birds and insects to the area and are generally long lasting.

There is another group of plants that purists may not approve of, but that are very useful in the landscape. These are sometimes called "adapted" plants and may originate in countries other than our own, that have similar climate and soil conditions. Adapted plants can add to your list of landscape plants that are low maintenance and will do well in your area. Herbs may fall into this category as many of our favorite culinary herbs are not native to the US.

Herb Garden in Monterey, CA.

Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to be able to take a short trip to the California coast, specifically the Monterey Peninsula. In Old Town Monterey my husband and I walked around admiring the old adobes that are still intact, although surrounded by modern buildings. Behind or along side many of the old structures are walled gardens which are open to the public to visit. These gardens are being cared for by volunteers and look quite good for being left on their own for weeks at a time.

I was pleasantly surprised to see lots of herbs chosen for many of the gardens. Rosemary and lavender are in plentiful use as are santolina, thyme, germander, Society garlic and scented geraniums.

Dark green Santolina, on the left, allows the flowers of the fleabane to come forth.

Aside from being drought tolerant, these herbs withstand the other vagaries of the coastal climate, wind and salt. Both creeping or prostrate rosemary and the upright variety provide evergreen interest along with the thyme and germander. These plants can also take full sun and heat. Since many of the gardens are walled, the plants have to be able to withstand reflective sun as well.

Well-established Prostrate Rosemary.

Much of the lavender is the Spanish Lavender, Lavandula stoechas, and was in bloom all over town. We saw it in large containers outside shops and in the gardens in town and right by the water.

When planning or adding to a landscape, think of herbs to add to your choices. In area with mild winters rosemary, thyme, lavender, germander and oregano are good choices. They'll survive the winter, are evergreen, flower in the warm season and look good for years. All are drought tolerant once established.

If you live where winters are harsh, you can still add herbs to flower beds and other seasonal plantings beyond your herb garden. Nasturtiums, with their bright colors, are one of my favorite bloomers with their spicy flavored flower petals and leaves. Borage flowers are a cool blue and the leaves have a rough texture that adds interest to a flower bed.

There are lots of books and magazine articles on landscaping with herbs. Here are a few references to get you started:

Xeriscape Your Garden
Garden Spaces- Plant a Native Herb Garden
Growing Herbs in an Urban Landscape
Deer Proofing Your Landscape with Herbs

I've added a few extra pictures for you to enjoy. This is such a beautiful part of our country, and the weather while we were there was picture perfect.

Courtyard Garden. You can see the Societ Garlic in the background.



Fountain seen from inside a courtyard garden.



Garden at the Robert Lewis Stevenson House. Centranthus ruber or Red Valerian in the foreground.



Protected harbor at Monterey.




Harbor Seal.



Surf breaking over rocks.



Hand painted tiles set into a wall depicting the local wildflowers. Just charming!



Me wading at the beach, Carmel, CA

QUOTE FOR THE MONTH

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy? -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)