Colonial Herbs

The Herb Garden is laid out in a traditional colonial pattern of two main paths meeting on a central axis with smaller paths radiating out in grid fashion. The beds are raised approximately ten inches using wooden boards as would have been done in the eighteenth century. The specimens are labeled and brief information is provided about the uses of each herb.

Raising the beds enables the soil to warm more quickly in the spring, allows for better drainage, and permits easy access for weeding and maintenance. The soft paths of shredded mulch make walking among the raised beds pleasant, and encourages guests to go into the garden for a closer look. Please do touch!

The history of gardening with herbs dates back to ancient times, covering all ages, in all countries. In America, the uses and knowledge of herbs grew with each race of peoples that came to the New World. Our forefathers and mothers brought seeds and cuttings from their homelands and the Native Americans passed on their extensive wisdom in indigenous species.

Though for many decades the understanding of herbs had become obscure, today they are enjoying a great resurgence of interest. Here at Stratford some of the herbs are used in our Dining Room for garnish and flavor while others are used in our interpretive programs and arrangements to grace special occasions.

Herbs are easy to grow as compared to other plants. They are relatively pest-free and, with a good start, grow without much attention.

All herbs and flowers - in fact all plants - have been given their own symbolism and meanings. The art of the language of flowers became highly specialized during the Victorian period. You will find in our list of herbs many of the meanings for each.

List of Herbs at Stratford

• Alkanet--Anchusa officinalis--biennial or perennial; used as a dye herb for striking red color; blossoms good in salads; used in herbal medicine.
• Angelica--Angelica archangelica--biennial; "inspiration"; large interesting plant in the landscape; wonderful licorice taste; cut stems, soak in simple syrup, dry and you have candy.
• Anise Hyssop--Agastache foeniculum--perennial; layer leaves in sugar for flavor in baking or stir into beverages; draws butterflies and "painted" wasps to the garden. (They DON"T sting unless harassed!)
• Silver Queen/Silver King Artemisia--Artemisia ludoviciana--perennial; silvery grey foliage is a must for dried arrangements; great in the landscape as well.
• Feverfew--Tanacetum parthenium--perennial; "you light up my life"; flowers fresh or dried are wonderful in arrangements; dried blossoms add sweet fragrance to potpourri; used medicinally to relieve headache and reduce fever.
• Wormwood--Artemisia absinthium--perennial; the plant once used in making absinthe, now known to cause severe brain disorder, a la Van Gogh, cutting off his ear!; good for decorating; tall, wispy foliage for the back of the border, nice pale grey-green leaves; frequently mentioned in the Bible (Jeremiah 23:15).
• Basil--Ocicum basilicum--annual; "love", "hate", and "good wishes"; no kitchen or garden should be without! Many great varieties available today; African blue is incredible in the landscape, lemon and cinnamon, as well as traditional greens (of pesto frame), are great for cooking.
• Bee Balm--Monarda didyma--perennial; "compassion"; delightful citrus/mint flavor good for tea and baking; a favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds (dark pink variety).
• Betony--Stachys officinalis--perennial; "surprise"; mostly used in the landscape today, beautiful, dark green foliage and purple-pink spiky blossoms; once used medicinally to strengthen the nervous system.
• Borage--Borago officinalis--self-seeding annual; "courage"; cucumber and melon blended into one, tiny sky-blue flowers are great for salads; also makes a nice vinegar.
• Salad Burnet--Poterium sanguisorba--perennial; "mirth"; all the flavor of cucumber without the burp; fun foliage is great year round for fresh salads.
• Calendula--Calendula officinalis--annual; yellow and orange petals add festive touch when sprinkled on salads; excellent healing salve made from the flowers.
• Caraway--Carum carvi--biennial; "faithfulness"; the essential seed in rye bread; seeds also used during the colonial period to curb appetite during prayer meetings.
• Catnip--Nepeta cataria--perennial; a delight to most felines, its minty leaves also make a tea that soothes the nerves; good for drawing beneficial insects to the garden.
• Chamomile--Chamaemelum nobile--perennial and annual; "humility"; sweetly scented of apples, it is the tea that soothes the tummy and lulls one to sleep.
• Chervil--Anthriscus cerefolium--biennial; "sincerity"; in the parsley family; excellent cooked with beans or chopped and added to scrambled eggs or omelets.
• Chicory--Cichorium intybus--perennial; popular to smooth out coffee's harsh stimulant effect; used medicinally as a mild tonic; young leaves good tossed in salad.
• Chives--Allium schoenoprasum--perennial; so pretty in the spring landscape with pale pink pom poms; add to any dish-what would a baked potato be without chives?
• Garlic Chives--Allium tuberosum--perennial; wonderful white clusters of star-shaped flowers, blooms in summer; blossoms and leaves are good in salads and any dish where the light flavor of garlic is desired.
• Clary Sage--Salvia sclarea--biennial and perennial; used extensively in aromatherapy and once used medicinally to "clear the sight"; good landscape plant with fat, fuzzy, greyish leaves and unique dragon-head blossoms.