England following America's gardening example?
It鈥檚 easy for American gardeners to feel intimidated by the Brits鈥� example. They have a land of ample rain and moderate temperatures, and passionately care about plants. We have weather extremes and 鈥測ards鈥� instead of 听鈥済ardens.鈥�
But just before the Fourth of July 鈥� celebrating our nation鈥檚 independence from you-know-where 鈥� a colleague sent me a note: 鈥淚 thought it was interesting that the land of gardening was following America鈥檚 lead,鈥� she said.
The message was accompanied by an article from the Guardian: : cabbages and carrots could replace flowers in royal parks.
It notes that London鈥檚 royal parks may soon see some flower beds converted into vegetable plots to demonstrate to residents how they can grow fruits and vegetables even though they live in a big city and may not have any land of their own.
Earlier this year, city officials came to the US to see how it鈥檚 done here. They were impressed with a project in Chicago鈥檚 Grant Park that demonstrated the principles of edible landscaping 鈥� plantings of vegetables and fruits that are attractive, maybe even as good-looking as flowers.
All of this isn鈥檛 new, even if it鈥檚 taking on more urgency in the current economy. , the guru of edible landscaping has been preaching -- and demonstrating the practicality of this -- since the early 1980s. She has a fabulous new cookbook, by the way: "Recipes From the Garden."
Recently, Time magazine featured the , 鈥渁 community garden and art project commissioned by the Contemporary Museum in Baltimore.鈥�
There鈥檚 even a campaign by for planting an edible garden on the grounds of the White House. (And here's a bit of behind it.)
Its seems that everyone is finally jumping on the bandwagon听to promote听gardening that鈥檚 practical as well as attractive 鈥� and听the US is听leading the way. If we stick with it, it may mean culinary independence for many people on both sides of the Pond. 听 听
