If you’re like me, you probably thought there was only one type of herb garden, right? A garden with herbs- usually delicious ones like basil, dill, oregano, and cilantro for cooking. However, there are SO many more uses for herbs than just cooking! They can be medicinal, used for aromatherapy, made into tea, or even just look pretty for aesthetic purposes. Check out this awesome list by The Herbal Academy for totally fresh herb garden ideas + what to plant in them. Here are some I’m considering:

-Medicinal garden- plant lavender, St. John’s wort, chamomile, echinacea, ginger, catnip, and rosemary.

-Tea garden- mints, roses, raspberry, nettles, chamomile.

-Bee/Butterfly garden- bee balm, sage, lemon balm, calendula, fennel.

There are also ideas for a moonlight garden, a salad garden, a dyer’s garden, an insect-repelling garden, and of course, the classic culinary herb garden!

Photo from loppear

I like to think that I have an eye for all things whimsical, out of the ordinary, and unique. From fashion to art to music, I love anything that is creative, fresh, and new! And I don’t see why a home and garden should be an exception. For tips on making your yard just a bit more magical, check out this post by Live Dan 330:

-Mix up your plants- plant flowers with your veggies, add herbs to edge your borders!

-Play with color, height, AND texture

-Make an entrance- a gate, pergola, or even conifers/big alpine plants to mark the entrance to your garden will make it that much more magical

-Have a relaxation spot- a table and chair or stone bench will give you an area to appreciate your garden (and add their own visual interest).

Photo Credit: Akuppa John Wigham

Having a beautiful yard is more than just mowing the grass and trimming shrubs/trees when they get too unruly. If you want a polished, great looking yard, but don’t know the first thing about landscaping, fear not! This post by Harvest Designs has universal tips that work for ANY yard. The best part is, they are simple, frugal, and anyone can use them. Check them out here:

-Think outside the wall- A tree or shrub placed near a property line, or gardens away from your porch can add lots of interest!

-Groups/clusters- plant flowers, bushes, etc. close together. It’s easier to maintain and gives more visual interest.

-Think Seasonal- bring in new flowers each season, plant evergreens that will remain throughout the year!

Photo Credit: zoetnet