Colonial herb garden willow arbor to be restored
Lewes in Bloom will host a renovation project for the fencing and arbors of the historic Fisher-Martin Herb Garden, with work set for Sunday to Tuesday, July 7 to 9, at 120 Kings Highway, Lewes.
The authentic 1700s colonial herb garden is located in Zwaanendael Park. It is planted with herbs used by colonial housewives for culinary, medicinal, and other uses such as dyeing fabric, repelling bugs and masking offensive odors. Also included are plants and herbs that were used by the Native Americans of the Cape Henlopen region. More than 80 species fill the garden during the growing season. The garden was initiated by the Sussex Master Gardeners in 1984, and Lewes in Bloom has maintained it since 2004.
The willow fencing and arbors bordering the garden perimeter represent the type of fences used in colonial times. However, the willow arbors and wattle fencing need to be replaced. Lewes in Bloom has contracted with the Ohio-based Living Willow Farm, owned by Howard Peller, to renovate these features in the garden. He is the only artisan/craftsman in the country currently designing and weaving live willow bundles into arbor and fence structures. He will also demonstrate how to make willow window bird feeders.
Peller has received national recognition for his construction of domes, chairs, playground shelters, tunnels and meeting spaces. His willow sculptures add texture and visual interest, and provide a biodiverse home for birds and insects. One of Peller’s woven willow sculptures is at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.
