Teaching Garden Plant Lists

The garden was designed by Marie Stella, a noted landscape historian and designer, and a former member of the New England Unit of The Herb Society of America. The garden is located on the grounds of Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street (Route 16) in Wellesley, MA, home of The Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Elm Bank features several specialty and demonstration gardens, which includes the Noanett Garden Club (ornamental grasses), the Rhododendron Society, the Daylily Society, the Trial Gardens, Weezie's Children's Garden, the Italianate Garden, and more.The Teaching Herb Garden is now 8 years old (2009). The construction phase of the garden was completed in 2004, when a beautiful, custom-built circular bench was installed around the Ginkgo tree, the focal point of our garden. This picture was taken shortly after the bench was installed.The garden is divided into theme beds, which radiate from the center and include: fragrance, dye, culinary, native American, medicinal, edible plants and flowers, and a Colonial theme garden. A collection of Salvia plants was added in 2006. Along one side, a rectangular bed is planted with sweet violets and groundcover plants. On the opposite side of the garden, we feature the "Herb of the Year." Another bed features an Ecumenical Garden. The plants in this garden have religious or symbolic importance in the five major religions, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. On either side of the teaching arbor, the beds are overflowing with roses and lavender and the perennial border is a visual delight. Planter/benches hold fragrant herbs that welcome visitors to touch and feel and to also smell the herbs.

Patio Furniture

Patio Furniture

With the many styles and choices of patio furniture available at Garden.com, it’s easy to furnish your outdoor space just as attractively as you do your indoor space. Consider just some of the possibilities—resin and wood patio furniture, Adirondack Chairs and garden benches! Patio furniture offers more than just a place to sit down; it adds beauty, style and functionality to your garden or backyard area. Add to the outdoor ambiance with an outdoor fireplace to sit around, some garden decor to admire, or even a wild bird feeder to relax and watch the wildlife.

Garden Decor

Adding the right decor to your garden allows your personality and style to shine as brightly as the carefully chosen landscape. It's the little things that count, and adding wind chimes, weather vanes, garden flags or even a garden statue or two will put the finishing touches on your masterpiece! Or you can attract wildlife to your garden, while keeping it beautiful with a bird feeder or bird house from our wild bird section. Accent all of your garden decor with a garden lighting system or a beautiful decorative flower pot.