The ornamental oregano that is in the white bowl now isn't doing it for me. I don't like the look of this variety even though it thrives and it drapes over the lip of the bowl nicely enough. (It's Origanum libanoticum).
I do like the combination of orange zinnias and draping oregano though.
But I like Origanum Kent's Beauty oregano much better than what's there now. It's a prettier plant, greener and softer looking. But it didn't always winter over for me in the bowl.
I had Kent's Beauty in oblong containers on the plant stand out front one year, and last year I put a bunch of Kent's Beauty in the green trough by the front door, in place of red geraniums.
The year I grew Kent's Beauty in one of the small terracotta oblong pots and had it on the patio table it was lovely. But I decided not to have a plant on the table -- I'd rather keep the table clean and open for food and drinks.
I have an "extra" container of Kent's Beauty already -- I had just put it in a pot and placed it at the back of the potting bench curve in shade to fill an empty spot. I can take out the oregano in the bowl now and transplant the extra Kent's Beauty there.
I thought about making the white bowl a mini herb garden, convenient right there by the back door and a way to grow herbs for cooking.
But Jim doesn't really use fresh herbs, he likes his collection of dried herbs. I like some fresh things like basil and cilantro and parsley and lemon balm, and feathery dill, but they all get so big and are hard to keep looking good.
And I would never use very much. I've tried herb gardens before and never got the hang of it.
So here's what I'd like to do with the white bowl next summer:
- Replace the oregano there with Kent's Beauty.
- Add a basil plant or two, it's the only herb I like growing and I use it for pesto and garnishes.
- Maybe add a blue leaved sage like I had one year back east. And lemon balm.
- Orange Profusion zinnias if I can get them. Or orange pansies.
That would make a nice full combo in the white bowl using just a few smaller herbs.