Getting Your Freak Show On – Break the Garden Rules
When I was a little girl, I was told I needed to “color within the lines”. As an adult I have a very – VERY – difficult time coloring within the lines. In life I like bold colors, strong drinks, and crazy-bold people. In my garden I want to see passionate colors and unique statements. I like my plants crazy-bold just like my friends. I like my paths to be eye catching, statement making, bright, and creative. I want to get my freak show on and wear it with pride.
Here’s a tropical plant from Plants Nouveau, Colocasia ‘Red Eyed Gecko’ PPAF, planted in a container filled with Bacopa ‘Calypso Jumbo Lavender’ and Verbena ‘Imagination’ sitting in front of my vegetable wall garden with hostas and in back of my quirky wine bottle border. Weird? Yep. Beautiful? Yep. Me? YES!
Try something different, amazing, and downright inspiring this year with your garden. Take risks. Live large. And most importantly – be yourself and do not feel as if you have to follow the rules. Live something new! Please post links and stories about your creative garden in the comments below. I want to hear all about your special garden.
Special Note – Because the FTC requires it, I am telling you that Plants Nouveau, Brian’s Botanicals, Jobes Organic Fertilizer, Bonnie Plants, Organic Mechanics Soil, Midwest Trading, and Natural Industries supplied the plants, mulch, soil, and soil additives I used in this colorful garden. I have used their products because I WOULD even if they had not given the products to me. All my wacky and original opinions are my very own so don’t go hating!
Thanks for being different, I am too. I like bold colors both inside and outside. I have a very stuffed garden but that’s the way I like it. When I’m working for client I do what they want but when it come to me, I’m unique and it shows in my garden as well. I have lots of kissass greens and purples. It’s my oasis so it should be bold and colorful because that’s the way I like it. Thanks for stepping out of the box and being different.
Who wants to be normal? Not me! 🙂
Shawna
Shawna, I love your garden and your unique style! I’m passionate about convincing people that growing vegetables and fruits can be just as beautiful as any flower garden, and I love encouraging people to give veggie gardening a try. Thanks for all you do to share your passion, too.
Carolyn
I don’t know if it counts or not, but I’m in the (slow) process of adding rose beds along our front walk. I don’t get quite enough sun for tea roses, but like you with veggies, I’ve discovered that there are several kinds of roses that grow well in less than “ideal” growing conditions. If I listened to the experts’ advice, I wouldn’t have any roses in my yard, & that would be unacceptable ;). I live in a typical suburban neighborhood in zone 7, where *everyone* has azaleas et al as foundation plantings in the front–I am determined to do something different in my yard, even if it takes the next 20 years ;).
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Great ideas – do it!!! 🙂
You are beautiful. Thanks for your lovely words. 🙂
I want to garden but don’t want to be a slave to it. I’ve bought some perrenials (seeds and pots) and plan to just plant them all over the backyard (quite large). I also got a trellis and want to plant morning glories and moon flowers to climb it. I live in nothern Florida and just want a wild look to the whole thing. Am I doing the right things? Any suggestions? Everywhere I plant I “improve” with potting soil as under the grass it is basically sand.
Marty –
I would look into adding more than potting soil to your sand. You need something that will add microbes back into the soil like rotted manure or rotted compost. Here’s what I add in my own garden – http://ded.e4d.myftpupload.com/2012/08/how-i-built-a-hot-damn-happy-front-lawn-vegetable-garden-in-a-drought-year/.
Additionally, if your city says a “wild look” is okay, then your design is up to you. If your city has restrictions on design, I’d be concerned about what those restrictions are.
Best of luck!
Shawna