Last weekend, I presented two programs at the Memphis Botanic Garden Herb Symposium. The symposium was held to celebrate the new herb garden there… and there is definitely cause for celebration. The garden is not yet a year old, though most of the plantings are showy and have filled in the space. The collection of plants is impressive, and frankly, I don’t know how the gardeners are keeping it looking so good what with the heat they have down there. Of course, a watering system helps, not to mention the lovely “pervious” walkways which allow water to seep through the pressed material. It is good-looking and easy on the feet. There are also handsome mosaics throughout the garden walks and herbs pressed in manmade stone.

The garden is sort of circular in shape with a center bed featuring a bay tree in the center surrounded by lavender. Four beds surround the center making up quarters of a circle and then there are perimeter beds beyond. All of these beds are full of the more commonly known herbs, lesser known cultivars, plants that are more unusual, and some which I had never seen before. Then there are shade gardens under big old trees featuring woodland herbs and specimens that need some protection from that hot Memphis sun.

Friday night, there was an outdoor reception in the garden, which was quite lovely with tablecloths gently blowing in the breeze, gorgeous flower arrangements from garden herbs and flowers on the tables, delightful appetizers and desserts prepared by the Memphis Herb Society, as well as live music by Minor Street Strings.

Saturday morning programs featured Richo Cech from Horizon Herbs in Oregon and Steven Foster from Eureka Springs, Arkansas, followed by an herbal box lunch and afternoon breakout sessions with an assortment of great herbal programs, walks and workshops. We saw old friends and met lots of new herbies and thank Sherri McCalla and all of the gardeners and staff at the MBG for hosting such a fun and educational event in such a beautiful venue.  

I encourage you to go visit the new Herb Garden at MBG and allow a whole day there so you can play in the Children’s Garden, the topic of another blog post. There is nothing like a visit to a wonderful garden for inspiration and hanging out with like-minded folks!

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

Buy at Amazon

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon