Inna's Garden
GardenSiteDescription
I. Ownership: Inna
Location: Northwest of Olympia, WA.
II. Area Description: The site is around a cabin situated in a rural, wooded area with a clear-cut plot of land for the settlement, and a small marshy wetland about 40ft. behind. It shows signs of a few garden plots once kept up, but are now overgrown, though a few perennials still stand. The grounds are grassy with patches of moss and covered in brown decomposing leaves. There is a path across the yard to the cabin laid in stones, though half of them are missing or covered. There is plenty of room for gardening on all 4 sides of the house, but I have chosen an area in the front to work with.
III. Describing the Garden Site: The planned garden will be as follows, though the spacious yard also allows many other possibilities for expansion.
1.Size: ~ 17’ x 3’
2. Shape: The site curves around trees and existing vegetation in the loose form of an ‘S.’
3. Topography: flat
4. Slope(s): none
5. Exposure: 8 hours of full sun in areas open to the west/southwest, partial sun/mostly shade for the rest of the area, the rest of the time.
6. SoilTexture: clay. Color: deep brown. Consistency: loose/crumbly near house; firm, saturated, mud-like everywhere else. Drainage: poor.
7. Water Features: Sounds of running water about 40’ behind cabin, but none seen. However, a small pool is seen in the same area with extreme iron oxide buildup within it and a very oily surface. Water inside is possibly from a well.
8. Principal Plant Species Present: Blackberry bushes, a butterfly bush, a holly tree, birch trees, and lots of other ferns, evergreen and deciduous trees, lichen and mosses to be identified.
9. Animal Activity Present: Robins seen, and lots of other birdsong heard, frogs heard from wetland area, male and female mallards seen in wetland pond, and 3 cats live on the land.
10. Story: I know little of the origins of the cabin. It is rented from someone on the east coast. A girl who liked herbs lived there before Inna, and I have a feeling she has something to do with the few herbs and cultivation on the land. Then, through synchronistic channels, Inna came to find her home here only a month or so ago, and she has a lot of love to give it. Long before I’m sure plants and indigenous peoples probably thrived around here.
11.Why? I chose this site because its spacious grounds immediately inspired me, and because Inna’s eyes lit up when I mentioned a garden. It also works out well that Inna is a dear friend who is away for a few weeks and letting me cabin-sit. I will surprise her with a garden plan when she gets back!
~ Amy ~ 02.14.06 ~
a little rough, but you get the idea...
Below, my proposed garden area as it exists currently. See the rocks arond the trees on the top and right? I think I'll open up those old withering spaces and curve around the whole inside.
Vision
I envision this garden as very much a part of its owner;
nourishing her as it flows its roots into the earth, and helping her to shine brighty.
Garden Design and Plan
I have decided to do a basic medicinal (and also culinary) garden for Inna. My intention is to provide her with plants that will nourish and heal her in many gentle ways. I have made most of the plants easy to find and evergreen or perennial so it is low maintenance. I plan to eventually equip her with recipes, a little’ ‘materia medica’ for her garden, and more medicinal information.
SPECIFIC PLANT SPECIES
Information from: Practical Herb Garden, by Jessica Houdret, 2004.
1. Lavender – Lavandula angustifola – Labitae/Lamiaceae
Growth: Lavender grows 2-3ft. tall, has light green leaves, and small purple flowers upon long stalks. It requires sunshine and well drained soil, is fairly hardy, and can hybridize easily.
Native Region(s): Mediterranean, Middle East
Propagation: In mid to late summer Lavender is propagated by heel cuttings.
Parts Used: Flowers and essential oil
Medicinal Uses: Infusions of the flowers are used internally for exhaustion, nervousness, anxiety, and headaches. Externally it may also be used for headaches and acts as an antiseptic.
Procurement: not needed; already on land.
Cautions: none found
2. Calendula – Calendula officinalis – Compositae/Asteraceae
Growth: Calendula is a low growing annual, reaching up to 20 inches. It has green, fuzzy, slightly sticky lance-shaped leaves, and gorgeous, bright, vibrant flowers that bring needed sunny color to late summer and autumn. Calendula is easily ushered up from any soil type, and regular dead-heading will ensure a long supply of flowers. Also…
“The Marigold that goes to bed wi’ the sun
And with him rises weeping.”
Shakespeare, A Winter’s Tale
Propagation: In autumn/spring by seed, and will self seed prolifically.
Parts Used: Fresh or dry flowers
Medicinal Uses: Calendula flowers have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. An oil infusion, ointment, salve or other external application can soothe any skin troubles away…Also, they are fabulous in salads and baked goods.
Procurement: Seeds from Amy
Cautions: none found
3. Chamomile – Chamaemelum nobile – Compositae/Asteraceae
Growth: ‘Chammy’ is an evergreen perennial with small, white, daisy-like flowers with yellow textured centers and a peculiar but calming smell. Leaves are finely divided and can grow to 15cm. A single flower sits atop a long stem (up to 1 foot.) Chammy prefers light, sandy soils, and a sunny position.
Native Region(s): Europe
Propagation: Best done by division of runners, but also done by sewing seeds in spring.
Parts Used: Flowers, essential oil
Medicinal Uses: A flower infusion may be made for a deep cleaning facial steam or used as a rinse to shine fair hair. Also, chammy is taken internally to calm and relax, soothe and sedate, for nausea, painful menses, indigestion, and can be used well with children. Externally it’s used in ointments and salves for many skin conditions.
Procurement: Cuttings from Amy.
Cautions: excess internal use can cause vertigo and vomiting. Plant may cause contact dermatitis.
4. Echinacea – Echinacea purpea – Compositae/Asteraceae
Growth: Echinacea is a tall, herbaceous, hardy perennial that can grow to 4ft. tall. Flowers have a raised conical center with prickly brown seeds and purplish/pink petals extending outward. It has a ‘rhizomatus rootstalk.’ It likes sun to partial shade, and well drained, humus soil as found in prairies and open woods.
Native Region(s): Central and Eastern North America
Propagation: By seed in spring
Parts Used: Rhizomes and coneflower
Medicinal Uses: Echinacea enhances immunity by stimulating the production of white blood cells It is also antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial. It can be used to treat respiratory infections, kidney infections, skin diseases, boils, abcesses, slow healing wounds, infections and other problems of the skin.
Procurement: Seeds from Amy
Cautions: none found.
5. Rosemary – Rosmarius officinalis – Labitae/Lamiaceae
Growth: Rosemary is a bushy evergreen shrub growing up to 6ft. with needle-like, forest green foliage and small blue flowers in late winter or spring. It has woody branches and an easily recognizable aroma. It loves sharply drained soils, needs little moisture (though it can tolerate more), is frost hardy, and likes a sunny, sheltered position.
Native Region(s): Mediterranean coast
Propagation: From semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer.
Parts Used: leaves, essential oil
Medicinal Uses: Rosemary is a restorative, tonic herb, with antiseptic and antibacterial properties. An infusion may be made to aid colds, influenza, fatigue, and headaches. A tincture can help depression or nervous tension. Externally it can be used as a massage oil to stimulate additional circulation to a painful area, and the essential oil can soothe aching joints or fatigue.
Procurement: Cuttings can be taken from a plentiful abundance of plants in the area.
Cautions: none found
6. Nasturtium – Tropaeolum majus – Tropoeolaceae
Growth: In South America a nasturtium is a perennial while in cool temperate regions it is a half hardy annual. It has trailing stems up to 10 ft, and circular leaves with a radiating vein pattern. It has yellow/orange/red spicy flowers and prominently spurred calyces forming globular fruits. It likes poor soil with lots of moisture
Native Region(s): South America
Propagation: Sew seeds in containers in spring.
Parts Used: seeds, leaves, flowers
Medicinal Uses: The seeds have antiseptic, antibacterial properties. Infusions aid upper respiratory and urinary infections. As far as culinary uses go the seeds can also be pickled for a caper-like taste (I have a recipe), and the leaves and flowers can add beauty and spice to a salad.
Procurement: Find or buy seeds.
Cautions: none found
7. Sage – Salvia officinalis – Labitae/Lamiaceae
Growth: A shrubby evergreen perennial growing up to 2ft. tall, sage has downy, roughly textured ovate leaves of grey/green/violet and in early summer, tubular spiked violet flowers. It’s a hardy plant that likes sun and dry sloping areas in cool temperate regions. Sage needs full sun and well drained soil.
Native Region(s): Southern Europe
Propagation: seed, cuttings, or layering.
Parts Used: leaves and essential oil
Medicinal Uses: Sage has astringent/antiseptic, and antibacterial properties and is a tonic and digestive aid. An infusion of leaves may be used as a mouth wash or gargle for sore throats, gum disese, ulcers, laryngitis, or tonsillitis. As an external compress it can aid the healing of wounds.
Procurement: Find a plant to take cuttings from.
Cautions: Can be toxic in excess doses, especially the essential oil. Indicated to not be taken over long periods, by pregnant women, or epileptics.
8. Passion Flower – Passiflora incarnata - Passifloraceae
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9. Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis - Lamiaceae
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10.Peppermint – Mentha piperita – Labitae/Lamiaceae
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11. Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare - Umbelliferae
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12. Basil
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13. Mullein
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14. Angelica
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15. Mugwort
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16. Yarrow
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(to be continued)
DESIGN
SEQUENCE BASED ON SEASON
Spring
- First, rake like hell until fall’s leftovers are composting away somewhere else.
- Till the soil by uprooting and composting grass, then aerate and dig up any ole’ scraggly roots. Next, mix in some sand and compost according to the area in which the plants will need it. No sand in angelica’s, peppermint’s, or lemon balm’s plot, and no compost in naturtium’s or yarrow’s (they like the challenge). Also, lay in some rocks for rosemary.
-Plant!
Summer
-Dead-head calendula flowers for more magnificent blooms.
-Prune Rosemany (if transplanted) to prevent it from becoming straggly, but not into old wood.
-Basic trimming or weeding if desired.
-Harvest! Flowers! Leaves!
Late Summer
-More harvest!
-Cut Echinacea stalks as flowers die to encourage second bloom.
-Basic maintenance.
Fall
-Harvest what you can of seed and root.
Winter
-Watch the necessary death and hibernation of the plant world.
Next Spring
-See the rebirth of the garden!
-Plant basil again, and hope calendula seeded itself.
-Prune sage after it’s flowering, but not into old wood.
-Basic maintenance
(more to come)
MATERIALS & TOOLS
We will only need some basics:
-shovel -trowel
-rake -tressles
-compost -sand
-hose with gentle spray nozzle
COMPOST SYSTEM
Presumably there is one already on the land for which the garden can partake in.
WATERING SYSTEM
The garden should be fairly self sustaining in this watery climate, but the times it needs watering a hose can be hooked up to the outside water supply and the garden can be gently sprayed.
Implementation
The steps we will take for Inna’s garden as this winter meets spring will be:
- Rake up fall’s leftover leaves
- Get compost, sand, rocks, and tools in order.
- Begin to gather seeds and plants.
- Break ground and begin the tilling process.
- Begin to sew some seeds indoors.
I plan on beginning this with her the next time we meet at her cabin.
