Hi there! Welcome to my front garden, which I have been developing to be an edible landscape since we moved here 15 years ago.
Above, you can see the herb-and-flower spiral under a volunteer fruiting Mulberry that we've welcomed into the fold. She introduced herself to the family just in time, since the 60-year-old Silver Maple growing on the park strip had finally succumbed to its mortal lifespan....
So, this year was the first time the baby Mulberry bore fruit, and it did rain abundantly upon the ground. I collected a bowlful, but ultimately found myself too busy with family responsibilities to process this bounty into any preserves, but Dear Son and the hens certainly filled their gizzards with fresh sweet, mellow berries under the dappled shade.
Along the curb, from left to right, Lavender, decorative Rock Purslane succulent, Mulberry, Four O'Clocks...(Path)...Rose, Lambsquarter, Nasturtium, Geranium. In the center back, Hibiscus, Black Mission Fig. Outside the pic to far right, Red Guava.
Tomorrow, I look forward to laying down some sheets under the Mulberry while my son prunes down loads of branches, the remaining ripe berries descending in a sweet patter below.
I have big plans for a wattle fence raised bed to emerge on the southwest corner of the yard. It will be filled with rough-cut mulberry suckers and green leaves, layers of waste cardboard and used animal straw. I foresee massive squash production in the near future!
Meanwhile, the neglected northwestern corner of the property is recieving some TLC: a row of till-free sunflowers.
To be honest, happy as I am with the carefree mini-sunflowers you see above, they have to have an inferiority complex just being attached to the same landscape, and being sprouted from the exact same packet, as the 10-foot plus massive versions of their ilk touching the sky back in the veg garden. Le sigh.
Still, the few Zinnias that braved stark stoicism and brutal austerity...
Thank you so much for pulling up and saying hello!
I have planted 9 trees on my tiny piece of Suburbia.
As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree is ten years ago, but the second best time is NOW!
#yourlifematters. Cultivate care!
Love,cat
