The monastery herb garden in spring: what goes on behind the wall

The herb garden by the abbey is a working garden, not a display one. In spring that shows most.

In March we uncover and clear. The perennials, lemon balm, mint, wild thyme and sage, come up by themselves, while most of the rest goes into the ground afresh.

In April we plant. Every plant has its place and its label; without a label, two months later nobody knows what is where, because young leaves resemble one another far more than grown ones do.

In May it begins to grow faster than we manage to weed. That is when it is decided what the summer will look like.

In June the first flowers come, and with them the first gathering: chamomile, calendula, lady's mantle.

The garden is open to visitors when the nursery is open. It is loveliest in the morning, before the dew dries.