“Provence” conjures vivid images in many people’s minds:
delectable food, a less frenzied pace, and beautiful scenery,
not the least of which are the fields of fragrant lavender—rows
upon rows of purple, pink, and white flowers swaying above
silvery foliage ready for harvesting. The National Herb Garden
may not be an exact replica of Provence, but soon it, too, will
have a lavender show of its own. For many years, the herb
garden’s lavender collection has shared garden space with the
roses in the Historic and Species Rose Garden. While this
combination works aesthetically, practically, however, lavender
and roses do not make good bed fellows. Roses like substantially
more water than lavenders and can tolerate clay soil. Lavender,
on the other hand, needs less water and excellent drainage.
Roses also prefer slightly acidic soil; lavender thrives in
alkaline soil. And, like many gray-leaved “Mediterranean”
plants, lavender does not like humid climates. It needs drier,
better circulating air than the National He