Color Makes Us Happy
Report From An Opinionated Gardener – January 15
I interviewed Rosalind Creasy this morning on GardenLine, and we talked about the new addition of her book, Edible Landscaping. I was interesting to hear her thoughts about how the subject of gardening with edible plants had changed since she originally wrote the book in the mid-1980’s. She said that the public is so much more accepting of edible plants being ornamental at this point, and that there are many more organic and least-toxic solutions to pests and problems.
This lovely book also impressed me because I loved the photographs that showed bright colors being used on garden furniture, pots and structures. She told me that although it has been fashionable to have such things be neutral or white, when she painted these objects in bright colors they made her happy. And when she used the same colors in clients’ gardens it made her clients happy. Now the photos of bright colors in the garden make the readers of her book happy.
Looking through Rosalind’s book made me want to go buy paint. OK, first I might need to get some garden furniture, or shutters and window boxes for the shed, to put that color on, but that’s a minor matter.
Color makes us happy, so what are we waiting for?
The blue door matches the shutters on my house, so I think I'll keep that, for the time being. But how about shutters that are painted the same coral or peach as these dahlia blooms? What about window boxes under those shed windows that are painted a sea-green?
January 16th, 2011 at 11:01 PM
This looks like a great book! I’ve been quite interested in edible plants for awhile. My son’s and I are always munching on stuff from the yard. Although I have taught all of my children at a young age to never eat anything unless they KNOW what it is!
Weeding becomes a great treat when you start to learn which ones are good for you and can be used in the salad mix or in a tincture.
Over the years doing tree work I have found many interesting sources of indigenous food stuff. From the inner bark of Pine trees and the leaves and new sprigs of Sassafras to that funny looking stuff called Usnea . (Yes you can actually eat that stuff! and it is a great antibiotic)
By the way, if anyone knows of any good resources or blogs regarding indigenous edible plants, please let me know.
January 17th, 2011 at 6:26 AM
When I was working on my Martha’s Vineyard book I went on a walk with herbalist Holly Bellebuono and learned that the new growth on bullbrier (aka catbrier, greenbrier, Smilax, that-damn-thorny-vine) is edible. You can pick off the new, tender tips and put them in salad!
January 17th, 2011 at 9:45 PM
Yep. Also, that nuisance of a plant, Japanese knot weed, has tasty new shoots in the Spring. Not to mention that the Bees absolutely love it in the Fall.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:44 AM
Definitely put up shutters.Window boxes would be picture perfect.
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:35 PM
[...] I should say we did it. Or my husband did it. I merely had the vision and picked the colors…he made and painted the shutters and window boxes. We both agree that the [...]