Gardens: Bet You Can't Pick Just One
Tuesday June 27, 2006
What if you could only have 1 type of garden. I don't know why. Maybe there's only so much space or time or strength. Whatever the reason, pretend you could only have 1 single garden. What type of gardening could you absolutely, in no uncertain terms, positively not do without?
I know, you're all saying you couldn't choose. This is just pretend. I'm not going to take away your other gardens. So just for the exercise, what one type of gardening is so important to your soul that you would sacrifice all the others, if needed? Come on. Play along. You can post your objections and qualifications in the comments below. Just to get the discussion going, I'll make a case for interplanting flowers and herbs in the vegetable garden.
Careful: Clicking Below will be Counted As a Vote!
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Poll:
If You Could Only Have One Garden, What Type Would It Be?
Comments
I wish more people would do a ‘mixed flower border’ with some herbs and vegetables interplanted; I’ve observed that people appreciate the whole plant this way and not just the culinary product. Many herbs and vegetables can provide beautiful (or at least interesting) foliage ‘breaks’ when used in a ‘flower garden’ setting.
Living in the city I find container gardens absolutely the kind of garden I could not live without. Most annuals, perrenials and seed packets do wonderful and the bounty of plant variety and size, shape of containers are endless. Also the placement is endless. We put them by the doors, on the porch, in the windows and even on the roof where we put peppers and tomatoes!
Mixed gardening really is beneficial. Besides the things in the article for attracting insects,there are other reasons. If you plant pumpkins at the base of sunflowers(couple weeks early) the “critters” wont walk on the hairy leaves to munch the flowers. Works for corn also.Vines of tiny pumpkins look wonderful growing on arbors,huge yellow,edible flowers,& tiny pnkns to decorate for fall!!
I LOVE my tomato and fresh green beans in the summer. Can’t live without basil to go along with the tomatoes! For the last few years I have planted zinnias in my veggie garden, and have a riot of color that not only looks beautiful, but it also invites the pollinators to come visit. A mixed garden is the way to go. I have my vegetables and flowers planted in very large containers with a drip system controlled by a timer. No weeds, no hassle. With the hard labor removed the garden becomes a joy, not a burden.
I live in a city with a small balcony for my garden. Am planning on embarking on some organic herb & vegetable gardening. I’m curious which herbs/vegetables will work best in a small environment, but it should be fun trying out different combinations.
I’m planning on recording my progress in my blog (http://greencityliving.blogspot.com).