More Garden Planning

We've decided for the most part where the raised beds will go in our yard, now it's time to decide on the plant placement. I'm making myself crazy with it. Should we go with a French Intensive Method or traditional plantings? All vegetable or ornamental as well and if so, what it the best combination? I want dimension and varied height. Of course I want the plants that need the most sun in the right place in relation to those that will shade them from it if in the wrong place. I'm worried that I don't have enough room which is crazy since I'm probably tripling the garden size we had last summer. See what I mean?

Stuck in the Mud

It's been raining here quite a bit. I'm not complaining. We really need it. It does however make it a bit difficult to begin a yard redo. The rain has however given us more time to think and plan. Isn't this garden lovely?

Winter Garden

I've had great success over the last few years with a summer garden. This year I hope to plant a fall/winter garden if it's not too late. As it is our summer garden is still producing pretty nicely and I hate to cut it short.

A Front Yard Garden

I saw my first true front yard vegetable garden while on vacation this week. I've seen tomatoes grown in flower beds but never an all out garden. I was immediately intrigued being that I had just been reading a little on this exact subject via About.com's Walking blog. The question there was yeah or nay on the front yard garden.

It has me thinking; from a neighborhood standpoint, I think that I would love to see front yard gardens. I'd know that my neighbor and I could talk plants and probably recipes too.

From the standpoint of tending a front yard garden, I'm not as sure. I have a hard enough time worrying about the neighbors behind me thinking that I'm nuts when they have to hear me in my postage stamp garden going on and on to the children and then to Husband about our latest news there, let alone being visible too.

I do plan to check out Edible Estates, by Fritz Haeg and see how it shapes my opinion or lack there of on this subject.

For the Love of Faux Bois

There is much faux bois to be found right now mostly in outdoor decor as far as I can tell.

{Planters, Martha Stewart, Kmart}

This table from Crate & Barrel and rug from Urban Outfitters being the exception.


I wonder how many pieces you can have before it's too much.


These pieces from Ballard Designs are each individually divine. I am especially fond of the coloring.

Succulents Clustered

{Martha Stewart, Living}

I live in the central valley of California and summers are HOT! Our backyard faces west so the afternoon sun is unbearable for many plants. We have a redwood deck with built in planters in which I have tried many plant combinations. So far only strawberries have thrived. I would like to plant something more visually interesting; this succulent grouping would be ideal. Our beds are shaped exactly like the ones above. I love that the individual plants have grown into one and that there is a variety of color, shape and texture.

Hangin' Around

{All images from Martha Stewart, Living}

Yesterday at our local, individually owned nursery, I saw the most impressive hanging baskets. I was most impressed by one that was covered completely with begonias. Susan Heeger did a how to piece in Martha Stewart Living, March (this year?) on just this type of hanging baskets. The plants are put not only in the open basket top but also in between the wires on the sides and bottom to create a perfectly round planting. They look spectacular in person but are too pricey for my budget. I would love to give them as Mother's Day gifts so I dug out my tear sheet from MS Living then went to Lowe's and got all of the makings. Tomorrow I'll put them together and see if my $20 version will compare.

A Front Patio

{flowerscape, Better Homes & Gardens, March 2008; table & fountain,
Ballard Design; hammock, Kmart; lighting, Pottery Barn;doormat,Wisteria}

Spent the weekend dreaming rather than doing. Husband & I have decided to make a courtyard/patio area in our front yard. We are in the planning stages. The existing landscape will be modifying to adapt to the final plan. Our backyard is excruciatingly hot in the summer months as is the kitchen so we are hoping to get a break from the heat by adding this entertaining area. I'm thinking that it will be perfect to have dinner there and then sit and enjoy the evening while the children play. These are the elements I am hoping to have in this space.

Good Stuff

The Edible Schoolyard is a one-acre organic garden on the site of Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Berkley, CA. Each student there takes part in classes in both the garden and the kitchen, learning about the origins of foods and then getting the opportunity to create delicious meals with those foods. It was started in 1996 by Alice Waters, author of 'The Simple Art of Food'. The long term goal of this project is to develop a nationwide curriculum that would inspire kids to love healthy foods. I am looking forward to supporting this event.

Finally!

This artichoke plant has been in the my garden for an entire year with nothing to show for it. When it was planted last spring I anticipated a fantastic crop by the end of summer. Nothing happened! I hadn't done any preliminary gardening investigation and so I found out after consulting my garden bible that artichokes can be grown as perennials and that they may not produce the first year. I let it be. Now artichokes are on sale in the supermarket (indicating to me that plants should be producing NOW), the plant is gigantic (4 feet tall by 3 feet wide) and I've had it. There is no excuse for taking up that much room in my postage stamp garden if you're not going to be productive. So on Saturday morning, I stomped out into the garden, worried that I may have to admit defeat and instead I found 3 fantastic globes!

Getting Started in the Garden

I have a postage stamp garden but I put it to work! My youngest daughter and I started the planting a week ago. Things are starting to sprout. We have herbs, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, artichokes, sunflowers, green peppers, sweet peppers and 10 tomato plants!

This is the fourth summer of veggie gardening for us. It all started when I got a hold of a copy of 'You Grow Girl'.

Each summer since, the plan has improved and the garden area has expanded. The first year it was a few pots, next year we may not have a lawn. It's such an accomplishment each year when it goes from nothing to something. If you haven't already, I suggest giving it a try!