This Week at Jekka's

This Week at Jekka's

Newsletter: 19th July 2026

Herbs Connect Cultures Around the World

One of the greatest joys of growing herbs is discovering how they bring people together, regardless of language or culture. Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming members of the Korean Herb Association and Medical Herb Centre to Jekka's Herb Garden for a private bespoke group visit. It was a wonderful opportunity to exchange knowledge, share growing experiences and celebrate our mutual passion for herbs.  

Although our gardens are on opposite sides of the world, we found that the same herbs inspire, nourish and connect us all. From culinary traditions to medicinal uses, the conversations reminded us that herbs truly are a universal language.

 





 Our Seed Harvest Has Begun


The heat of recent weeks has certainly changed the pace in the herb garden, we have already started cutting back many of our plants and started the annual seed harvest.

Every seed grown here at Jekka's Herb Farm is harvested by hand before being carefully dried, cleaned and packed over the coming months, ready for the 2027 season. It's one of the most satisfying jobs of the year and a reminder that gardening is always about looking ahead.

This week's harvest has included Broad-leaved Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), Giant Fennel (Ferula communis) and Scottish Lovage (Ligusticum scoticum), with many more varieties to follow as summer progresses.


 




A Feast for Pollinators

The herb garden has been a frenzy of activity, with bees and butterflies making the most of the abundance of nectar-rich flowers.

Our Elecampane (Inula helenium), Hedge Germander (Teucrium x lucidrys), Fullers Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Jekka’s™ Buddleia Mint (Mentha longifolia 'Jekka’s™')and our Lavandula x intermedias are all covered with busy bumblebees and our honey bees. Every sunny day brings a wonderful display of pollinators moving from flower to flower, reminding us just how valuable flowering herbs are for supporting wildlife throughout the summer months.

However, if there were an award for the most popular herb in the garden this month, it would undoubtedly go to our oreganos. The flowers are quite literally covered with bumblebees and honey bees, as well as no fewer than five different species of butterflies.

If you are looking to create a wildlife-friendly garden, oregano is one of the very best herbs you can grow. Not only is it a wonderfully aromatic culinary herb, but when allowed to flower it becomes an irresistible nectar source, providing food for a remarkable variety of pollinating insects.

 


 

Cultivating flavour, creating experiences.

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