Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) comes in many cultivars, and the same cultivar grown on the West Coast may look very different when grown in the Midwest. It is a pungent herb with hints of pine resin. Growing it takes little effort as it is a drought tolerant plant perfect for a rock garden or growing along…
First place vote-recipient and winner of a $3,000 grant The Monarch School of New England (MSNE) is a unique, comprehensive, private, non-profit, year-round, specialized, day school for students, 5 to 21 years of age, with severe physical, intellectual, emotional, medical and developmental disabilities. MSNE’s programs, located on two sites, are based on an integrated team…
Second place vote-recipient and winner of a $1,000 grant Since 2012, the one-acre Vets Healing Garden site has been a partnership between UW-Extension, Veterans Affairs, and Milwaukee County open to all veterans of military service, primarily consisting of veterans from the Vietnam War. The Vets Healing Garden is coordinated by a VA Readjustment Counselor. Through…
Third place vote-recipient and winner of a $1,000 grant Since 2014, the Horticultural Therapy Program (HTP) of the North Carolina Botanical Garden has provided weekly horticultural therapy sessions for adults with serious and persistent mental illness at the Farm at Penny Lane, located in Chatham County, North Carolina. The Farm is operated by XDS Inc.,…
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a biennial plant with bright green, featherlike leaves and is in the same family as dill. This herb is used in soups, sauces, and salads, and it lessens the need for salt in soups. Not only is it the perfect garnish, but it is also healthy; rich in iron and vitamins…
In 2017, National Garden Bureau and Sakata Seed America are partnering to provide $5,000 in grant money to be split among three therapeutic gardens in North America. National Garden Bureau promotes the health and healing powers of human interaction with plants through a yearly grant program for therapeutic gardens. Sakata Seed America is a leader…
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) and its cultivars are the most familiar forms of oregano. This is a perennial hardy to Zone 5 and bloom with rose, purple or white flowers. As such, it makes a good ground cover coming back each season to deliver fresh herbs for the culinary gardener. Oregano is used in a wide…
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) come in several forms, but the most common one has roundish leaves that are used for their onion-like flavor. This perennial member of the onion family is hardy in Zones 3-10. In spring, it has lovely purple flowers made up of masses of florets. Chives are cool-season, cold-tolerant perennials that are planted…
Dill (Anethum graveolens), a member of the carrot family, and is valued both for its flavorful foliage and for its pungent seeds. As annuals, dill plants die each year, but their seeds can winter over in the soil to pop up the following year. Dill grows well in gardens throughout zones 3-10. Dill is fast-growing…
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae. It is also called the “king of herbs” and the “royal herb” possibly because of the name’s meaning in Greek. It is best known as a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in Southeast Asian cuisines. Depending on the species…
