Next Projects: Herb Bed, Sun Room(!)

Early on, I realized my raised beds were prime real estate for growing vegetables, which need rotating a lot more than often-perennial herbs. Since then, I've sought out places to dedicate to herbs. Some herbs, like mint and lemon balm, stay in pots so as to not take over the world. Lavender earns its spot in the perennial border, and thyme creeps around the vegetable beds, punctuated by slow growing rosemary (it dislikes my heavy soil). When I had an abundance of parsley and cilantro seed, I scattered it and accidentally created an herb bed.
The partially shaded spot, sunny in winter, is perfect for parsley and cilantro, and the chives and sorrel seem to like it, too. You could even call the roses (inherited) part of the herb bed, as I hope to use them in a culinary way at some point (I recently made a rose syrup that will be nice in lemonade). Caraway was a bit of a bust, but I plan to try again. I ended up putting sage and oregano at the sunny end of the bed, and both are quite happy. I have cumin and many Asian herbs I'd like to add, but first I need to continue pulling out the violet party happening in there. Also, this spot is low and water pools, so I need to add topsoil.

The "accidental"  herb beds needs work--the flopping flowers had to be corralled with supports; violets threaten to take over.

Some of the herb bed project will depend on a much more ambitious and overdue project, converting this shed, which a previous owner built onto our house, into something inhabitable, what we're calling a sun room.

The Carolina Jessamine vine will find a new home (probably behind the herb bed), and the day lilies will be dug up and given away (again), and we'll have large windows installed (or maybe French doors?). Other than that, we're completely clueless. A contractor will be involved, as it is way more than we have the time, skill, or inclination to take on. The cement floor inside is cracked, water infiltrates after big storms, and I am not ready to show you the scary photos of the inside.

However, once the worst is over, we will finally have a room--even if not connected to the inside of our house--that we can actually see the garden from. Otherwise, we only have the door into the kitchen to stare out of. I can't wait!