Inspiring gardens that are good enough to eat

To me, having your own edible garden is somewhat like having keys to Willy Wonka’s factory. Okay, so there’s no rivers of chocolate but there is still something magical about being able to step outside the back door and help yourself to something delicious you grew yourself. 

Earlier this summer, I spent many an evening standing under the apricot tree with nectar dripping down my chin and arms. At the moment I’m feasting on strawberry guavas and grapes. That’s not to mention the plethora of instant herbal teas, and green curry and salad ingredients that are available any time of the year.

I spent an inspirational last Saturday at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, browsing a range of gardens from the achievable to the spectacular, and picking up a several unique gardening products.

The gardens were inspirational for a range of reasons – a serene Japanese garden focused on mental health, another used grapevines grown over the gardener’s mum’s back shed, while a third featured 5000 hand-knitted poppies
in commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the ANZAC Gallipoli landing.

 But it was the two edible gardens that had me dreaming of a garden makeover. 

The Urban Oasis was designed to incorporate permaculture and sustainability principles into the modern urban garden. It was simply beautiful, with dry creek beds, lush vegetation, and a sunken seating area that would provide the perfect retreat from city living. The plants were chosen either because they were edible, companion plants that would attract beneficial insects or deter pests, or would help manage stormwater. And that was all in a space smaller than the average lounge room!

The stunning Urban Oasis garden.

The Food Forest show garden transformed the average-sized backyard into an beautifully landscaped, edible paradise. By layering plants of range of heights, colours and textures, the designer Phillip Withers created visual depth and the illusion of a far larger garden. It also had some fun elements like an “outdoor rug” made of herbs under the dining table.

The Food Forest garden, featuring citrus, Tuscan kale, purple cabbage, basil and chillies.

 

These gardens were only temporary – they were built in just a couple of weeks from pre-grown pampered plants and have probably already been dismantled. But they had some great lessons for the home gardener:

• An edible garden doesn’t have to be an ugly garden. Many fruit and vegetable plants are architecturally gorgeous in their own right, and there are plenty of flowering plants like alyssum, geraniums, lavender and columbines that, while not necessarily edible, will bring both colour and beneficial, pollinating insects to the garden.

The pumpkin pile in the Diggers Club display.

• Space isn’t essential. Espalier fruit trees against the fence, grow beans up your corn, hang baskets of strawberries off your balcony rail – be inventive!
• There’s no need to isolate plants in their own clumps or rows, which is not only boring but like a flashing neon sign to pesky bugs who hone in on the smell and shape and devour them. Mix them up with differently textured plants and you’ll confuse the bugs while delighting the senses.
• Have fun! A sculpture, interesting rock, garden gnome, concrete owl, or even a funky old wheelbarrow or rusty mattress springs scrounged from the local recycling yard will all add personality and life.

I plan to incorporate more of each of these lessons into my backyard over the coming year – I’ll keep you posted! I’d also welcome your thoughts – where do you find inspiration and what are your favourite edible garden ideas?

Another small, achievable garden - with or without the gorgeous kitty!