Going Vertical

So many yards, especially within the larger metropolises, have very small yards in which to practice gardening expertise and to enjoy outdoor living.  So, how does one take advantage of what is available to them to incorporate a garden oasis on a small scale?

I was watching a re-run of CityLine today and was pleased to see a favourite gardener, Frank Ferragine (aka Frankie Flowers) doing a segment on this very topic.  From vines to trellises, arbors and pergolas, one can make a small space seem larger by taking advantage of the vertical elements.  Here are a couple of Frank's suggestions:

Left and right, is the tower garden as seen on CityLine. It is an ingenious design where you can plant herbs and lettuce or all ornamentals or a combination thereof.  As the plants grow, the tower is camouflaged.  A real space saver and clever design!

taken at Holes Greenhouses

Along a wall or garden fence, something like this, to the right, can be incorporated to give height and a lush feel to the garden/patio.  You may uses herbs, salad mixes, or ornamentals like grasses, and trailing plants.  Your imagination is the limit here.

This planter/trellis combination, left, would be perfect on a deck or patio for height and privacy.

Behind the fountain is my Jackmanii Clematis growing up the trellis attached to our deck.  In the background you can see three Brandon Cedars which are terrific in a sheltered site for offering year round greenery and height in the garden.

Don't forget to plant trees, provided you have the room!  Trees of varying heights add a vertical perspective and authenticity.  (Yes, this is a garden, no matter how small).  I prefer my garden to have varied levels.  Some tall trees, some mid-size trees and vines, shrubs and low-growing shrubs and perennials.  Doing this offers a more natural feel to the landscape while being pleasing to the eye.  If you look closely, you might see an obelisk, of which there are three in this spot.  I have used obelisks to train peas on, small vines, and now, just as ornaments in the garden.  They, too, offer vertical enhancement.

Vines, such as this bluebird clematis on my neighbour's fence, offer privacy and beauty.

To watch the video segment I enjoyed today, visit: http://www.citytv.com/cityline/garden/article/210151--maximizing-your-small-garden-space

Garden Trends 2011

I was watching Cityline the other day, well actually it was like 3am and I was awake, TV on, and Frank Ferragine was on talking about the garden trends for 2011.  Looks like a good idea for a post, I thought, so I quickly grabbed my scribbler, which sits by my bedside, to record it all.  Some of these were discussed at the workshop I attended at the Home and Garden Show here in Edmonton too.

Vegetable Gardening.
If we had told our grandparents years ago that vegetable gardening was going to be a trend in 2011, I am sure they would have laughed at us.  Not a trend, they would have said, but a means to an end...a necessity.  It was for many.  It wasn't that long ago that vegetable gardens were the norm but now it is a trend.  Go figure!  Vegetable gardening is taking on a new look too.  Raised beds (like BUFCO below), designs including flowers or including colourful vegetables in the flower bed are on the rise.  Imagine a colourful kale, purple cauliflower, swiss chard, amongst your flowers.

BUFCO debuted at  Canada Blooms 2011.The BUFCO Raised-Raised Bed, made from eastern white cedar logs, features hip-high (3 feet tall) gardening. The growing area is large enough to accommodate a good variety of vegetables and holds up to 10 inches of soil. The pedestal of red cedar can hold lots of storage for your gardening tools and supplies. http://bufco.ca/index.php/products-a-services/the-bufco-raised-raised-bed.html

Great for balconies, decks and patios, the Raised Raised Bed can be a  productive food producer while making gardening accessible for those in wheelchairs or for those who don't like to bend while gardening.  A real back saver.

Purple/Black Foliage, Grasses and Flowers
Purple and black will be all the rage this season as gardeners look for something original to plant in their beds and containers.  Think Black Velvet Petunia, purple carrots, Black Mondo Grass, Pennisetum Purpureum Prince Purple Fountain Grass- in a black/purple colour, Pennisetum Glaucum Purple Majesty, Pennisetum Glaucum Purple Baron, Pinstripe Petunia, Black Dragon Coleus, Calibrachoa Blackberry Punch (Superbells),  Coleus Chocolate Mint.

Gnomes

Seriously?!  Thanks in part to the new release of "Gnomeo and Juliet", garden gnomes statuary is a growing trend for 2011.  Gnome sales have increased 20% since this movie came out.  Personally I don't like statuary/accessories of this type, preferring fountains, wrought iron, and such.  Doesn't everybody's grandma have these hidden in their gardens?



Black and White Colour Schemes
White is great in the night garden but don't put it in full sun as it will appear faded and washed out rather than the accent you desire.  A shade garden is perfect for those punches of white too.  Imagine, if you will, a planter that receives shade in the hottest part of the day planted with "Prince" pennisetum purpeum in the center, chocolate mint coleus, white impatiens, and a lime green sweet potato vine, or three if you have a large container, perhaps a trailing aparagus vine. One could go with a dark colour scheme and accent with lime green or white to achieve this effect.  Pump up the colour!  Consider grouping planters together where each planter focuses on a different aspect of the black and white scheme.  One could be dark accented with lime green, another light colours accented with dark.  Use your imagination and make it your own.

Incorporate Nature
Bring in bird feeders and water features to attract birds to your garden.  Plant flowers that butterflies love such as bee balm (monarda), columbine, hollyhock, butterfly bush (hardy to zone 5, mostly).  Plant flowering shrubs that will attract hummingbirds such as rhododendron (if it will flower in your area when hummingbirds migrate there) or weigela, and flowers such as petunias, calibrachoa, trumpet vine.  Hummingbirds are partial to red.

These are the top five gardening trends as mentioned by Frank Ferragine on Cityline. Have fun with something new this year and remember to Punch Up the Colour!