Jekka's

I'd been intending to visit Jekka's Herb Farm established over 30 years ago, and now known as Jekka's ever since I was given a copy of the wonderful Jekka's Complete Herb Book. After hearing Jekka McVicar speak at the South West in Bloom conference in Chippenham earlier in the year, I was determined to visit and agreed to do so with friend Trish who was at the conference with me. I wrote a post entitled 'The Queen of Herbs'
Jekka's is open to the public 2 days a month during the summer, it's a great place to visit, and with 400 herbs on sale, it's a fantastic plant buying opportunity.
As Jekka pointed out to me when I said that although I live in Swindon, I was visiting for the first time in July, it's only 45 minutes down the M4. At the beginning of July, the thyme plants were flowering, this creeping yellow lemon thyme was the most fantastic colour, and one of the first plants on my 'to buy' list.

The garden next to the nursery mostly consists of raised beds with herbs in them, grouped by family. The planters have carvings in them which I thought a lovely detail.

The lavenders were looking lovely

and I liked the buddleia mint seen above, apparently the flowers are also edible, I bought that one as well! Below I loved this Allium nutans or Siberian chives, great in salads and stir frys.

Below Salvia microphylla var. maicrophylla, blackcurrant sage, a fabulous plant

There were polytunnels with plants for sale as well as plants outside, and still further tunnels where there appeared to be plants organised in neat rows looking beautiful

And more lavender looked perfect

There's a cafe and a shop at Jekka's where healthy lunches are served. I had a quiche with salad and dressing made from olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Tashkent mint which was fantastic. If you look at the photo below, you can see what I bought, the Tashkent mint is bottom left, a very vigorous plant, and on the right, a Corsican borage which I'd seen somewhere else and not bought.

I am running out of space in my garden, so I moved a compost bin and created 'Jekka's bed where I have planted the herbs, along with another big Salvia and a delphinium. I think they'll all get on well.