The following was received via email: I am 71 yrs old and have lived in my present home 10 years. It was new construction so I had a free hand at creating my own garden. What I wanted was a circular garden with herbs, divided into 4 categories: Culinary, Medicinal, Aromatic and I hadn't decided the fourth name. People discouraged me saying it was a silly idea and it would not work, or I could not do it. I started small and hand dug the center with a pitchfork, then added a second layer section, etc. I did not finish it when I had a offer from someone to do it with a tiller. The end result being a bed 34 ft x 34 ft. Quite a large project, and it was square and was informed that it was better. While sitting in a doctor's waiting room I spotted a Herb Quarterly, Summer 1990. Browsing though I discovered a wonderful garden in the center of just the garden I wanted. I was so happy and asked to borrow it for a couple of days. I am so thrilled to see it in print and have copied it for my own reference. I have since decided I want to grow a few vegetables so I would make some changes, but first I want to know the dimensions, in feet, of your garden. Then I can work on my own plan. I also thought about adding Biblical plants as I have many favorites. Also this was a bad year in our part of the country and I lost of woody plants such as Lavender, Santolina, Thyme and Scotch Broom, as well as other perennials. So you see I am in a good position to rework my yard before I become unable to do much work. I just love my Herbs and mainly concentrate on them. Any assistance you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Ann M.
Sounds like quite a large herb garden that you have there, Ann. I do not know the dimensions of the Physik Garden at UBC Botanical Gardens. I assume you want to copy the general shape of the garden rather than the size as it would be a large garden to maintain for a home garden. You might want to use Biblical herbs to form the fourth section of your garden plan. That would make an interesting collection.
Physik Garden My next question is, if I divided my garden in quarters will it be too small to replicate the plans of the Physik Garden? I would like to add some vegetables to the over all space, perhaps using 1/4 or 1/2 for the veggies and the rest for herbs.
This is my favourite part of the Gardens. A few years ago I took measurements and plant notes for each bed. I know I do not have the space for a garden this size but I really like the proportions. I find it is a very calming space. The overall size is about 70-80 feet square, with two diagonal corners rounded off. The pathways are about 3 ft wide. The centre circular bed is about 8 1/2 ft, the next ring of beds are 8 ft deep, and the outer ring of beds are 9 ft deep. The outside bed varies in size but is probably 9 ft and more. The outer yew hedge is about 5 ft wide and between 7-8 ft tall. All the beds are edged in brick, 7-8 inches wide, and the pathways are crushed gravel? There are three benches around the outside. If you look at the garden like a clock the entrance is at 6, the benches are at 7:30, 1:30 and 3 (there is a look out to the vine covered arbour here). The rounded corners of the hedge are at 10:30 and 4:30. Note: these measurements are approximates as I am not a surveyor. I also have plant lists for all the beds (the outside, and all 9 inner beds). It is too long to list here, but let me know if you would like a copy. All the best with your own garden, Linda
