front lawn gardening

 

   In about 10 days, we are moving in to our new house.  The
neighborhood is a subdivision that has farm fields about a tenth of a
mile away.  I don't see any sign of decent sized gardens out here, any
raised beds, or really much gardening at all.  There are simply large
yards that people mow, evidently.  I'd like to have a large garden, but
the situation is that while I can do a little of this along our fence,
the best place for it in our location (due to sun, etc.) would be our
front yard.

   I come from a farm background, and while I like flowers, I also like
plants that give me something to eat.  I tend to plant raised beds and
borders with things that accomplish both.

   While I'd like to simply plant the front yard to pumpkins and sweet
corn, I have a feeling that the neighbors would at the very least resent
it, and probably they would end up trying to cite me for some nonsense
about my yard not meeting the neighborhood standards of looking like a
golf course.  I'm sure I'll already have some of them annoyed with us,
because my wife is planning to put up a clothesline to harness solar
power. (the old fashioned way - drying clothes with the sun)

   So, in order to "break" the neighbors in to the idea of front lawn
gardening, I was wondering what tried and true methods some of the rest
of you have used?

   I'm especially looking for productive vegetables that either have
striking foliage or flowers.

   Thanks!

 



I haven't done this yet due to costs, but eventually I'd like to get some
good permanent landscaping done in my front yard, with attractive edible
bushes, fruit trees, herbs, and small plots for pretty seasonal vegetables.
Corn and pumpkins scream "GARDEN," but certain types of peppers, brassicas,
artichokes, and legumes can be very beautiful, and may even fool people into
believing they are useless.  Herbs are nice to tuck into empty spaces just
like pansies or alyssum, and they are usually just as pretty.  For flowers,
try edible kinds such as chamomile, nasturtium, evening primrose, saffron
crocus, violets, or amaranth.  Grow vining beans, peas, kiwis, or grapes
over an arbor.  Plant a circle of small fruit trees in the middle of the
yard, and put some benches under them.  In areas where you want some "lawn"
or other green groundcover, plant lemongrass, onions, or spreading herbs
like oregano, mint, or thyme--then you can walk on it and also go out and
cut some ever time you seed to season something in the kitchen!

I am really looking forward to seeing other replies to this, because I love
the idea of edible landscaping and am always looking for new ideas.
--S.

 



The main thing is not to make it look like a "garden."  I haven't
tried it here since we have plenty of space in the back.  I found a
book on colorful vegetables that seems like a good way to start.  I
don't remember the name of the book and I can't find my copy right
now.  Rainbow chard was one thing.  
--
USA
North Carolina Foothills
USDA Zone 7a

 



Artichokes, both globe and Jerusalem. Climbing peas or beans.  Grapes.
Herbs.  Many flowers are edible.  Fruit trees.  My personal favourite is the
globe artichoke for striking foliage.  I like the quince tree for all round
beauty, it has great flowers, attractive leaves and good looking tasty
fruit.

David

 

On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 11:55:24 +1100, "David Hare-Scott"