Creating Edible Forest Gardens.
A place where the maidens can dance, the mothers sing, and the grandmothers cackle with glee.
Pauline Schneider: Westchester County, New York
Creating a landscape that is both beautiful and functional is both challenging and fun; add to that the edible factor and you have a garden that takes you to a whole new level of wonder and beauty.
In this photo to the left we see the edge of a pool scape where the border is planted with a mini oasis of Mint Hyssop, Hydrangea, creeping Mint, Lilly, and Aquilegia Canadensis (Columbine). To the right of the path is a Plum tree flanked by grasses and Lambs ear.
Remember the wonder of your childhood summers?
You can recreate those memories for your children to cherish. No matter how small your property is.
Today we seem to be living in a world that is more troubled and distressing; there are few places that we can find solace and quiet, and fewer moments to cherish the sweetness of our own families and close friends. We can honor our relationships by sharing a beautiful and peaceful space with our loved ones.
I've been a gardener since I was a child. And now when I garden I feel like a child again, caught in the magic and wonder of the Earth's beauty. Recently I've developed a new focus on planting edible gardens.These are the most resilient kinds of gardens and the ones that will payback for decades.
Ajuga, aka Bugleweed, is a year round evergreen that tolerates shade and sun. It's also edible.It's also mostly deer resistant in that if they have some, it just makes it better. Diversity in the landscape is important. Monocultures like grass lawns and swaths of Pachysandra invite plant diseases and harmful insects. Allowing Dandelions, Chicory, Purslane,Plantain and Wild Violets to grow in the lawn contribute to the overall health of the landscape and adds to a tasty salad. Rather than spraying herbicides and toxins into the soil, I harvest the wild weeds for teas and salads. This conscious choice of action not only benefits the "good" bugs, it benefits the health of my family. I always try to remember that most of the biology that contributes to healthy fruits and vegetable are either hiding under ground or are so small as to require a microscope to see. Respecting these little guys' homes is as important as respecting our own homes. When the early settlers came to North America they were amazed at the understory diversity of plants in the woodland.
The Trillium grew in vast swaths filling the forest with their effervescent beauty. Today this native is almost endangered.
You will be well rewarded for planting this gem in your shady spaces.
In this photo to the left we see the edge of a pool scape where the border is planted with a mini oasis of Mint Hyssop, Hydrangea, creeping Mint, Lilly, and Aquilegia Canadensis (Columbine). To the right of the path is a Plum tree flanked by grasses and Lambs ear.
Remember the wonder of your childhood summers?
You can recreate those memories for your children to cherish. No matter how small your property is.
Today we seem to be living in a world that is more troubled and distressing; there are few places that we can find solace and quiet, and fewer moments to cherish the sweetness of our own families and close friends. We can honor our relationships by sharing a beautiful and peaceful space with our loved ones.
I've been a gardener since I was a child. And now when I garden I feel like a child again, caught in the magic and wonder of the Earth's beauty. Recently I've developed a new focus on planting edible gardens.These are the most resilient kinds of gardens and the ones that will payback for decades.
Ajuga, aka Bugleweed, is a year round evergreen that tolerates shade and sun. It's also edible.It's also mostly deer resistant in that if they have some, it just makes it better. Diversity in the landscape is important. Monocultures like grass lawns and swaths of Pachysandra invite plant diseases and harmful insects. Allowing Dandelions, Chicory, Purslane,Plantain and Wild Violets to grow in the lawn contribute to the overall health of the landscape and adds to a tasty salad. Rather than spraying herbicides and toxins into the soil, I harvest the wild weeds for teas and salads. This conscious choice of action not only benefits the "good" bugs, it benefits the health of my family. I always try to remember that most of the biology that contributes to healthy fruits and vegetable are either hiding under ground or are so small as to require a microscope to see. Respecting these little guys' homes is as important as respecting our own homes. When the early settlers came to North America they were amazed at the understory diversity of plants in the woodland.
The Trillium grew in vast swaths filling the forest with their effervescent beauty. Today this native is almost endangered.
You will be well rewarded for planting this gem in your shady spaces.