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16-05-2004, 05:05 PM

writes:
In rec.gardens.edible, Jackee wrote:
My husband and I are dedicating today to put in a flower bed. We are
digging up grass and will be wanting to plant some plants / bushes that
are
year round tolerant for Boise, ID. Something with color, any
suggestion? I
still get confused about what to by that lasts year round, annual,
perianual?

You gunna EAT those flowers?
sluggo
ps are ALL from Idaho "ON-TOPIC Challenged"?

That comment was really unnecessary and shows a lack of total knowledge as
it relates to ornamental/edible gardens. One of our neighbors has a
wonderful flower bed that has all edibles in it. I certainly wouldn't
consider her "on-topic challenged" if the discussion is about edible
gardens . . . she *has* an edible flower garden! Salads from her house
are fabulous.

I, personally, didn't interpret the topic as being completely off-topic,
or any more off-topic than discussions about tillers, how to keep critters
out of the garden, etc. But then, that's me.

Back to Jackee, nasturtiums are prolific and have edible blossoms as do
many other flowers. Chives are usually year-round and have wonderful
foliage and beautiful flowers, mine are purple (garlic chives).
Onions/leeks have wonderful bulb-type blossoms as well. Curly parsley can
be quite attractive as well as providing a good supply for the dinner
table. Blueberry bushes are ornamental and provide wonderful fruit as
well as a good backdrop for the garden or make a lovely hedge. So there
you have a background of blueberry bushes, with curly parsley and chives
bordered with nasturtiums. Undoubtedly, many others also have ideas.

Don't forget dill and fennel, the butterflies and bushtits love it. Then
there are the *regular* herbs, a border of different sages can be lovely,
tricolor, etc., or have a spot of only sages with the larger varieties
bordered with smaller ones Thyme and oregano have many varieties that are
multicolored. Lemon balm is prolific and very lovely. Rosemary and
lavender can provide a wonderful hedge look if planted in rows and kept
trimmed as it grows (taking the "trimmings" inside for that wonderful
aroma). Sage, rosemary and lavender also are quite lovely to smell when
you are working around them as well as lavender filling the air with
wonderful perfume when it rains. Grapes can be trained into an attractive
fence/hedge that is lovely in the summer with such beautiful leaves, fruit
in the fall, and an interesting mosaic of branches in the winter; a
neighbor has one that is absolutely fascinating and quite lovely.

Check with your local nurseries, there are undoubtedly many other such
plants for you to incorporate into your landscape. It would be quite cool
to have a section of all edibles which are also very attractive. You
could have an all edible and ornamental flower garden(s) if you don't have
your heart set on specific non-edible flowers. You will, of course, want
to avoid pesticides, etc. Ladybugs are fabulous and can be purchased in
little net bags to release in your yard. Between ladybugs and
insect-eating birds, I've not had a problem with undesirable insects;
undoubtedly, good fortune is also in that mix.

Point is, one can have a lovely "ornamental garden" with all edibles, many
of which are year-round. The question was not off-topic after all, was it?

Glenna
Born in Idaho!