Edible Landscaping

Have I mentioned to you all that I love reading blogs (especially gardening blogs)? I often get very inspired by other gardeners and what they have growing in their gardens. Although I very rarely leave comments, there are several blogs that I frequent often. I also troll on Google's blog webpage, searching for any garden related posts for reading material to pass the time. Not only do I find blogs to be very inspirational, but also informative and often indicative of the current trends (including trends within trends).

What has been popular the last few years in the gardening world is the fact that many people are trying to start their own gardens (may it be on plots of land, raised beds in the front yard, container gardening on the balcony, etc.,), and are incorporating edible landscaping into their gardens. This movement is part of a bigger movement, in which many are trying to grow their own food, eat locally, and trying to garden more sustainably.

It's my understanding that edible landscaping means, not only using plants in and around the garden to beautify or landscape the home but the plant also has an edible component. For example, a cherry tree or crabapple tree not only beautifies the home's landscape (e.g. providing beautiful blossoms in the spring) but also provides fruit for consumption. This is also true of blueberry bushes and many other fruiting plants. One can also use prennials and herbs, like chives and sage, to not only add color and interest into the garden, but also for food purposes too. It would seem almost impossible to not have edible landscaping in a garden (considering how many plants there are out there that have an edible component to it), but I am reminded of the many English formal gardens, which are really beautiful, but generally are created with plants that are not edible.

In reading all of these blogs, I just think it's funny that I have unintentionally created my own edible landscaping. There are definitely flowers and plants that I love having in my garden that are not edible, but I admit that many of the plants in my garden were planted because I wanted to be able to grow my own food and were not planted to beautify my yard.