by Sue Goetz
Take a minute to reflect on historical accounts of gardens; they were a necessity, the source of food and medicine, not landscaped for ornamentation. There is a generation that can still remember the “victory garden”. In the 1940’s the term defined a home garden planted to produce food for the war effort. Vegetable gardens were a commodity and as President Roosevelt stated, “food is no less a weapon than tanks, guns and planes”. In our fast-paced life, the connection to gardens, simply grown for food, is very different. Time and space are the precious commodities. We are far removed from the notion of food gardens for a war effort. Inherent to our past, comes the trend where small urban gardens give way to vegetables and herbs. Imagine the snap of fresh peas picked from the vine, the fragrance of tomato plants growing in the sun, lemon thyme filling the air with aroma in the midst of an herb garden, all the senses are captivated when growing your own food. This year, get back to your roots, plot and plan an edible garden that captures all five senses.
Sight
Starting with the visual. Think of the aesthetics of a potager. The French term meaning “kitchen garden”, the potager conjures up elegant visions of the acres at Potager du Roi at Versailles. In today’s space challenged gardens, an urban potager is not just about the expanse of a kitchen garden, it is all about the ornament of food gardening. Artistic veggie and herb plantings can find their way into all shapes and sizes of garden spaces. Design and creativity are essential elements. This garden will always be cut from, so planning for an attractive year around look is important. Start by drawing lines. Defining permanent framework will allow plants to come and go without taking away the design. Enclose, circle or make pathways to form space. Move beyond the frumpy, treated wood rectangles. Framework created with living plants such as true dwarf English boxwood or hardscape such as woven willow hurdles, brick or stone will create permanence. Build pathways for easy harvesting and a creative way guide the eye and focus through a space. Garden structures such as obelisks, trelliswork and garden art allows the introduction of color and style. Plant vegetables and herbs artistically; avoid straight rows. Line up plants in patterns that intermingle with each other reminiscent of small knot gardens. On rooftops and balconies, try container gardens. Use pots at least two feet wide and tall to maximize choices of plants to grow. Cluster groupings to create a garden. Plant creatively; a Bay Laurel topiary or columnar apple tree will add an upright accent in the center of a pot while herbs and veggies fill around abundantly.
Touch
Textures like the fluff of chive blossoms, the ribs and ridges of a pumpkin or the softness of fennel. Plant touchable plants throughout the garden. Another touch element is the feel of real stone. Walk thru a specialty stone yard to able to feel textures of different types of stone for walls and built-in patio seating when deciding what to use as hardscape.
Sound
Nature herself needs no technical devices to create sound in the garden. Birds create a cacophony, water bubbles, while the wind rustles thru leaves. Encourage sounds by adding the elements that attract or create them. Bird friendly plants invite birds in. Puddles, water features and birdbaths play the sound of raindrops. Create organic sound by encouraging the gentle hum of insects by using plants that create a buzz such as English lavender.
Smell
The fresh smell of harvested lavender, compost ready for the garden and the earth after a rain all prove the power of fragrance as they evoke memories and garden inspiration. No bottled essence can truly imitate the fragrances of the garden. Aromatic plants should be placed where they can be enjoyed such as along a walkway, near the front door or around a seating area. The placement of plants is like blending a fine perfume, a bed with sweet peas and Lemon Gem Marigold is an indescribable mix released with the heat of a summer day.
Taste
In a vegetable and herb garden, the pleasures to your taste buds needs no explanation! There is no substitution for the flavor of fresh herbs, veggies and fruits from the garden.
Indulge your garden space, plant edibles that captures all the senses.
