I discovered a mulberry tree growing in the front yard! The birds discovered it too! It got me thinking about the concept of edible landscapes. The edible landscapes movement basically says, 'Why plant strictly ornamental plants when you can put in plants that look great and are edible too!"
I have wild grape all through my hedges. That and the Virginia creeper seem to be the only thing that can stand up to the honeysuckle. The leaves are good for dolmades. My mother has an Armenian friend and we used to go gather these in the woods...
My dad's crab apple tree.
I found the lady - a blogger(!) - who literally wrote the book on Edible Landscaping! Please try to take a minute and look at her site and the way that she uses things like herbs as ornamentals - beautiful and inspirational. www.rosalindcreasy.com
And read about "Incredible Edible Todmorden, a town growing all its own food - in public!" A town spokeswoman says, "This is a revolution. But, we are gentle revolutionaries. Everything we do is underpinned with kindness."
I have prepared this post to participate in Nature Notes over a RamblingWoods.com! It is fun and interesting group!
this takes me back to our beautiful wild mulberry tree...oh and the strawberries, and the cherries, and blackberries all just bursting with flavor...sometimes sour, often sweet...growing all around the woods on the edge of our property when I was a child...and here too, we have many wild, yummy fruits, but not mulberries.
ReplyDeleteWe had apple trees and blueberry bushes when I was a kid!
DeleteI have to think of something cool to do with mulberries IF the birds leave us any! The birds are having such a party in that tree!
Edible landscapes are great for wildlife. I like seeing plants and trees that are good for animals as well as people.
ReplyDeleteThe mulberry tree has definitely got the birds excited - LOL!
DeleteLibby...this is great..I have to go visit the blog..I always think in terms of wildlife edible, but why not people edible..great post for Nature Notes...
ReplyDeleteI read more about the blogger I featured...they say that her book really spearheaded the movement!
DeleteI am an urban planner, and a lot of planners are starting to get excited about this too!
How very perfect. Yes, we have some edible plants, but most are for "pretty." Regarding mulberries, we have so many growing wild around here that the birds get drunk in on the Fall on the over ripe berries. :\
ReplyDeleteReally? LOL! I never thought about that!
DeleteOh, I just know I would poison myself if I tried to eat anything wold. Even when I'm pretty sure it's a raspberry .. Though do envy your edibles! Thanks as always for your wonderful comments.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteOne of the neighbors was standing on the sidewalk eating these and one of my kids joined in. And, I was saying, "Wait! Stop!" frantically looking up berry trees on my IPhone to see if they were poisoning themselves! No one died and I found pictures of mulberry trees that are just like this. So, I calmed down - LOL!
Mulberries remind me of my childhood. What fun we had picking the ripe fruit...that was such a long time ago! Love the idea of having wild grapes all along the hedges! I just hopped over to the edible landscaping blog...thank you so much for the link. I'm inspired!
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks! Yea, that blog is great! I like how she recommends alternating red and green basils in flower beds.
DeleteLove the idea of edible landscaping. I planted my nasturtium - hope to eat some by July! I would eat crab apples. The ones in the store are too sweet.
ReplyDeleteHi Leora! It struck me as a good idea too! People work so hard on their landscaping plants...why NOT make them edible if they are also good looking?
DeleteWe are going to make SOMETHING out of the crab apples - we have a while to decide...
The nasturtiums will be GREAT in salads :)
We have a globe artichoke maturing in our flower border - but I don't know whether I shall eat it or put it into a flower display!! - crab apple jelly is supurb - interesting blog - Jane UK
ReplyDeleteI am leaning toward jelly...and now that you have said this, I think jelly it is!
DeleteThat is a tough call on the artichoke, because they taste good, but they really are stunning in a flower display!
What beautiful captures...the first one so lacy looking with the shadows.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I focused on the driveway and let the berries in front be out of focus...just to see how it would look - LOL!
Deletea great idéa. I always think it would be gret to have bushes and such that can be used. And good to know childred will not get poisoned.
ReplyDeleteYou're right! I didn't even think in terms of not having poisonous plants around the kids. Good point!
DeleteAn edible landscape sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the link to the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eileen! Let me know what you think of it :)
DeleteI have wonderful childhood memories of spending mornings in the branches of my grandparents ginormous and ancient mulberry tree. An interesting and informative post- thank you. I live in transition town and the concept of Edible Landscaping is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if it could catch on everywhere. I provided a link to info about a town where some women got edible plants planted on all the public property!
DeleteWhy not, indeed! In our back yard we have half ornamental and half edible plants. It is great to be able to go there and pick seaosnally fresh herbs, vegetable and fruits.
ReplyDeleteIt seems so simple, right? But, I think for a lot of people it takes a whole new mind set to not have JUST plants for "show."
DeleteSuch a simple concept and yet so many are completely disassociated from the source of their food. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Celeste! Really appreciate the kind words...
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