Lockdown Gardening

We have reached the home stretch of the growing season, and what a season it has been! I’ve had a busy and exciting first year as a landscape designer in Seattle (it’s not over yet!), and would like to share some observations.

When I first meet with new clients, via phone or Zoom, their stories this year have been quite similar: “We are at home more and would like to turn our yard into a more inviting space.” or “I’m walking around the neighborhood a lot these days and admiring all the beautiful gardens. I wish mine would be more attractive.” or “We’re not going anywhere this summer. So we’re spending our time and money on our yard.”

For many clients, a kitchen garden is now an integral part of their outdoor space. Some call them Victory Gardens 2.0, or Pandemic Gardens. New name, same idea: supply the home with fresh fruit and veg during times of crisis. I am more than happy to include them in my designs, be it as a fun veg patch for the kids or a stylish potager to enjoy a walk in. My hope is that they will outlast the crisis they were designed for.

Sometimes the kitchen garden thing doesn’t seem to work out though. If that has happened to you, please read on:

It’s perfectly fine to realize after the first year that perhaps you don’t have the keen green thumb you thought you had. Or that you need more space, water and time to feed the family from the fruits of your own garden than you are able to give. Maybe your kids’ enthusiasm only lasted until the first batch of radishes, and now you’re wondering why you bothered?

The good news is, these raised beds are not wasted. If you want to take a pause from growing edibles, grow cutting flowers instead! Dahlias, ranunculus, zinnias, delphiniums… there’s a long list of easily grown plants that will add lots of color to your outdoor and indoor spaces. Or grow some easy herbs. They always come in handy, and the bees love them. Another insect magnet for your raised beds is a wildflower patch, cheaply grown from seed. When one spring you feel like returning to lettuces and tomatoes, go for it!