After a four year drought, California has finally had a rainy winter and spring. My small suburban garden has perked up quite a bit since we bought the property three years ago. So, I thought I would throw open my garden gate and invite you in for a little visit. Especially if you promise not to notice any weeds…
There is nothing like opening the kitchen door and looking out on jasmine, scented geraniums, herbs and succulents on a spring day. Rosemary, thyme, marjoram, basil and sage are close enough for flavoring dishes.
Edibles like tomatoes, lettuces, peppers, eggplants and broccoli are mixed among ‘Victoria Blue’ salvia, pink lantana, roses and flowering herbs.
I often combine flowers and food in some of my garden beds, because that allows me more growing space in my small garden. The flowers and flowering herbs attract pollinators like butterflies and bees for my edible plants. Plus, I don’t spray, so there’s no danger to the food plants.
Even with a rainy winter, we still have water issues in California. So, I’ve installed four rain barrels in my garden, which harvest rain from the gutters.
Did you know that just one inch of rain on a 1,500 square foot house can fill a 50 gallon rain barrel?
I’ve noticed my plants respond much better with rain water than from the tap. When I have four full rain barrels, I feel like a wealthy woman in Southern California.
The purple flowers are verbena, which attracts lots of butterflies and bees. Broccoli is planted underneath.
Rosemary, thyme, sage and marjoram are gathered in this sunny spot of my garden. They all like these Mediterranean growing conditions.
I let the thyme plants flower to attract bees. The flowers are edible, so when I prune them off, I add them to soups and casseroles.
This borage self seeded itself, as they often do in Southern California. This annual grows best from seed, because it has a long tap root. That’s why I pull up any babies I don’t want, as they don’t transplant well.
The flowers are edible and taste a bit like cucumbers. Add them to salads and soups. Not only humans, but bees love them too. I always have a couple buzzing around in the mornings.
Here are eight edible flowers you can grow in your garden.
Meanwhile, artichokes thrive in Southern California and this was an excellent spring. I’ve left quite a few on the plant to turn into those luscious purple flowers.
Here’s more about growing artichokes.
And this roque squash self seeded itself in a quiet part of the garden, which surprised us all.
Hope you’re having a great spring. What’s growing in your garden?
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