Geroux Herb Gardens

 How did Gahanna, Ohio, get an official herb garden long before going green was cool?  The Columbus suburb was fortunate enough to be the home of Jane “Bunnie” Geroux, an herb and gardening devotee who convinced Ohio’s legislature to declare Gahanna the Herb Capital of Ohio in 1972. Living up to its nickname, Gahanna has even sprouted an Herbal Trail dotted with local culinary and garden destinations.

Not surprisingly, one of the Herbal Trail’s showpieces is the Geroux Herb Gardens, which cover an acre next to Gahanna City Hall and consist of themed collections of herbs. The Biblical Garden, for example, contains lavender for tranquility and purity; the Culinary Garden has summer savory to spice up meats; and the Medicinal Garden includes catnip to prevent fevers  Although the Geroux Herb Gardens sit on a busy corner, strategically placed trees and ornamental grasses filter traffic noise and unsightly shopping center views. The overall effect is a lush and lovely sanctuary where brick pathways lead to vine-laden pergolas and flourishing beds of herbs.