Today I am the home of Bob and Renee Naeger. Their home is the perfect example that the vegetable garden doesn’t have to be a traditional vegetable garden. Planting seasonal vegetables with ornamentals is a great way to add interest and put food on the table.
The Naegers, along with daughters Samantha and Chloe, start with their mixed border along the street. On one end are double-red Knockout roses, a 2006 Mississippi Medallion winner, fronting tall heirloom tomatoes. Russian sage, whose foliage has a spicy fragrance, has a grayish-green tint and pairs well with dark green rosemary.
One side of the back gate is planted with little lamb hydrangea, elephant ear, purple coneflower, mixed zinnia, and swamp sunflower. The other side with zucchini, spicy globe basil, eggplant, and cucumbers trained on a trellis. The two sides are complimentary having textural and vertical interest.
The Naegers do have raised beds where tomatoes, beans, and squash grow along side of black eye-susans and marigolds.
Herbs are grown more as landscape plants. Rosemary provides a shrub-like effect while thyme provide the ground cover.
One of the best features is the blueberry pen. Using bamboo poles and bird netting, Bob built an enclosure to keep the birds out.
And speaking of bamboo, it is everywhere providing support to vegetables and flowers alike. What a great way to add a more natural look.
Planting vegetables and herbs in your landscape creates interest and adds value to your landscape. I’m Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.