Beauty and Function: Foraging in the Flower Bed

My garden and flower beds are sadly neglected this year, but even a quick trip
yields a harvest of flowers and herbs for both food and medicine.
In this photo are rosemary, yarrow, thyme, sage, mint, and lavender, among others.

I love growing plants that are both beautiful and functional. That’s not to say I won’t grow plants for either function or beauty, but if they supply both, it’s definitely a plus. That’s why you’ll find my garden and flower beds filled with plants like yarrow, lavender, and mint. (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme are in there, too, but I think that’s a different blog post.) I can’t do more than touch on a few of them, but here are three of my favorites:

Peppermint uses go far beyond candy canes.

Peppermint

Have you ever driven by a peppermint field? That scent! It can carry on the breeze for miles. Mint plants of all types love water, which can be a challenge in this area. I solve the problem by planting it near a constant water source. Currently, that means a spigot near the garden, where the mint frequently gets excess water dripped or splashed on it. Careful, though! In the right conditions, it can absolutely take over your garden or flower bed, so either plant it where you don’t mind the spread or be prepared to battle its progress every year. I don’t mind the spread of mine. I harvest vast quantities every year for drying. (For tea, of course, but my Italian husband has also shown me how to use it in meatballs, and I’m hooked.)

The dark-green leaves provide a cool touch in a dry landscape, and this well-known herb does sport beautiful purple flowers if you let it go to bloom. And, yes, we all know about peppermint candy canes and peppermint tea. But there’s far more to this plant than taste alone.

Peppermint is a soothing aromatic—a cup of peppermint tea is a delight to both the tastebuds and the nose. It’s not just the smell, though. Though it can increase heartburn in some people, Peppermint is generally an antacid, and it is effective against nausea and vomiting. It helps expel gas, though I'm sure you never have that problem. It’s diaphoretic, meaning it can induce perspiration, so is somewhat useful for colds and fevers. It can help soothe headaches, and I diffuse the essential oil either alone or with lavender oil to help with headaches. I also diffuse it, alone or with eucalyptus and Cyprus oils, to ease congestion. 

Lavender not only smells good, but it can also relieve pain.

Lavender

Of all the plants I could name on this list, lavender is probably the best known and most beloved. Its masses of small purple (or should I say, lavender) flowers always brighten my day, not to mention the smell! We’re all familiar with that relaxing scent. Drought-resistant varieties like French lavender grow well in this climate with minimal watering, and I have two huge plants that have made themselves the showpieces of my front flowerbed. I’ve used the flowers several times to add scent in soap making. I’ve even made lavender cookies and gelato! Its abilities go far beyond that, though.

Lavender is a mild analgesic, meaning it can be used to relieve pain, so it’s helpful for headaches and migraines. I often put the essential oil in a diffuser along with peppermint and Cyprus oils for just that purpose. Lavender essential oil is antifungal and can be used on burns. Finally, it’s an aromatic and relaxant, easing tension and anxiety, lifting mood, and even mildly antidepressant. 

Yarrow is a medicinal powerhouse.

Yarrow

Yarrow’s simple clusters of small white flowers are unassuming but lovely as they blanket the hills of Eastern Oregon in spring and early summer. It takes a rugged plant to grow wild around here—cold winters, hot summers, semi-arid and drought-ridden, shallow and rocky soil—but yarrow is a survivor. In fact, it’s pretty prolific and will take over given the right conditions. It’s certainly doing its best in my flower bed, but I don’t really mind. It also makes an excellent ground cover instead of grass when kept mown.

Moreover, yarrow is a powerhouse of medicinal remedies. It’s anti-inflammatory and anti-viral. It’s a fever reducer and induces perspiration. Finally, it can help heal wounds and stem bleeding.

I’ve personally made it into tinctures for internal use, but I find it more palatable to make the flowers into tea. The tea can be used for colds, fever, and even menstrual cramps**. My friend, Dorene, over at Faith-Family-Farm recently wrote an excellent post on using the leaves to make a healing salve. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s on my extensive to-do list. I’d also like to try it in some homemade soap.

**Please note: Women who may be pregnant should be careful taking yarrow internally, as it can sometimes cause miscarriage. It’s always best to do your own research from reliable sources before using any herbal remedy!

One more benefit to these three plants? The bees love them! That’s a win-win for everybody.

My front flowerbed follows the riotous pattern of an English country garden,
with plants chosen for beauty, but also for function such as food, medicine,
and pollinator forage.