The Herb Garden

Located at number eight on the map, the herb garden was designed, built and planted by Henderson County Master Gardener Volunteers. Joan Colburn is the garden champion of this garden. Many of the plants are grown from seed in our greenhouses. This garden shows a variety of herbs that can be grown for flavoring, food, medicine, dyeing, or perfume. For each of those uses, the leaves, seeds, flowers, or roots may be used.

In the herbs of the Bible bed, we’ve taken a little license in using cultivars of various plants that thrive in WNC, rather than just the Holy Land.

In the dyeing and fragrance bed are plants that can be used to dye fabric, and others that provide pleasant aromas. The hues achieved with plants for dyeing vary with the fabric and with any mordant that is used. A mordant is an additive used to help bind dyes to fiber. Plants for fragrance may be enjoyed in the garden and may be used in sachets. And some may repel pests.

In the medicinal herb bed are plants that some people use to treat wounds and ailments, or to boost the immune system. Various parts of the plants are used in different ways to treat a wide variety of conditions.

In the culinary bed are herbs used for the flavoring of food, and some that are tasty fresh from the garden.

Additionally, in the center you’ll find the thyme bed with an astrolabe, a tool used for keeping time.