In the Curious Kitchen Garden Photo: Marcia Sieler

I have never seen a garden shop that I didn’t like! It is extremely difficult for me to drive past one without stopping in, and even harder to resist buying something. Gardening has always been one of my favorite hobbies, although, until the past few years, I was too busy traveling for work to really enjoy it.

Gardening is a family affair. Steve and I do it together. Although I confess I do a lot more of the planning and designing, he does much of the digging and heavy lifting. But it’s teamwork nonetheless.

We spend much time outside, whether in our front porch area or the back deck. Both have a lot of comfortable seating and shade, so we like to decorate with plenty of nature’s bounty in various container pots that come in all shapes. Colors and sizes. Some plants are traditional, and we do it the same yearly, but we usually try to mix it up a little. I typically like to work with white and various shades of green. But I do like to add a pop of color here and there.

I thought I would share a few of my favorite garden guru tips, tricks, and trademarks:

Herbs.

We plant our favorite herbs in giant planters on the back patio. While they are lovely to look at, they are functional. We plant the herbs we use most in the kitchen. That means huge basil plants, parsley, cilantro, sage, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. We mix these plants with annuals, making the most lovely container. They also are a fragrant addition to the patio–especially in the morning when damp from the overnight dew. Herbs aren’t the easiest to grow, but we’ve been at this for many years and have it down to a science. Steve knows which ones need more water and which ones don’t like too much water, and he keeps them healthy and happy until the fall of the year. There is something so satisfying about walking out the back door, snipping a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and tossing it into a recipe.

Front Entrance Containers.

We have large, extra-large container pots on the front steps leading up to the front porch and front doorway. They are definitely statement pieces. We typically plant something large and spectacular and dot smaller, delicate annuals around it. This year is ferns, and I love how they get grander throughout summer. The front yard has been a challenge, but we did a major overhaul when we first moved. Perennials, such as Lambs Ear and Ivy, add interesting elements, and our container pots complement what we are already growing. Pick your favorites, and don’t be afraid to go big and bold. After all, it’s the entrance to your home, and it needs to be fabulous.

Heirloom Tomatoes

During the early days of COVID-19, Steve turned the sunniest part of the backyard into a raised bed vegetable garden. He grows veggies, including lettuce, peppers, squash, and tomatoes. My favorite homegrown vegetable is the heirloom tomato. Nothing is more comforting than having your own homegrown tomatoes ripen on the window sill all summer. We experiment each year with different varieties. I don’t have any particular favorite. I love them all and count down the days until they are ripe and ready to use. My Tomato Pie recipe is a classic and one of the first go-to recipes I use each summer when our harvest is ready.

TV and Social Media

We get many ideas and inspiration from gardening shows, like the Magnolia Channel’s Growing Floret. I discovered this, and there’s no looking away. It is wonderfully entertaining and inspiring. I also see a lot of gardening reels and stories on Instagram. Like most people, I can dive down that social media rabbit hole and stay online for longer than I should…but it’s research, right? One post I regularly follow is Carmen Johnston Gardens. I know I say this a lot, but she is fabulous. Her designs are stellar. Her gardens are amazing. I send Steve messages throughout the day, including Carmen Johnston Gardens inspirations!

The Garden Tool.

The handiest, dandiest little tool is a trake, which is a double-sided garden trowel and rake. Whoever invented this knew what they were doing. These two essential garden tools have been combined into one, allowing you to loosen up the soil, uproot plants, flip the thing over, and dig. They aren’t too big, are less than 20 inches, are sturdy, and perform extremely well. You can find these at any garden shop and even online–and the best part is that they are not expensive. If I could have only one garden tool, this would be it.

Writing about all this gardening has me excited about the season. Steve and I are just about finished planting, and soon, we will see the benefits. Until then, I will just enjoy being outside.

Cheers, and Happy Planting!

MK

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