My presentation on the “Beautiful Edible Garden” at Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival was a hit last week in Florida! I’m not bragging, just reporting that after a detailed 45-minute presentation, my audiences stuck around for another 30 minutes or so, milling around the demonstration gardens to take photos of some of the edible garden ideas.

Debbie Mola of Disney’s Horticultural department is a one-woman wonder and is responsible for (among other things) creating the displays for the Great American Gardener Speaker presentations. She found this “onion rack” at some dollar discount store and planted it with herbs for my show. The wire frame offers perfect drainage and hung, makes great use of vertical space.   

Another hanging delight, fresh herbs are planted in a wreath frame. Packed in moss and lightweight soil, the herbs are kept neat through occasional harvesting. Make sure you hang this one where the sun DOES shine!

I‘m sure you can find an unused colander in your kitchen cabinet or at the dollar store to transform into a countertop salad garden! Just add soil and plants.

This “Strawberry Tower” from the Bruce Post Company is one of my favorite finds for the garden this year. It is made of rot-resistant western red cedar wood, is pyramid shaped with four planting sides and comes in 4 or 6 foot tall models. I like it because it offers excellent drainage for the berries, makes good use of vertical space and is a gorgeous addition to the garden or patio!

Do you want a delicious edible garden but hate to dig or are short on time? Would you believe that within this mesh is a future pre-seeded salad garden? “Amber’s Garden” is the brainchild of Connie Henderson and is available at your local garden center. Check out what happens when you put this mesh on prepared soil and add water. 

Five weeks later…a delicious and mixed “salad garden!” I tasted these greens and can attest that Amber’s Garden salad is great-tasting and an option for the harried gardener or anyone with limited physical abilities. No digging!

Amber’s also offers a “Salsa Garden,” as well as an herb garden, pumpkin, gourd and other collections.

Once I had everyone fired up about creating their own edible edens, I sent them home with a Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company newspaper and free seeds! Baker Creek graciously supplied enough heirloom seed packets for me to give away to all my attendees.  Thanks Baker Creek!

You should have been there! Maybe next year.

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