gardening means different things to different people. Thousands view gardening as a hobby, a relaxing escape from the pressures of an urban environment. For these people, the food produced may be almost secondary. Growing fresh vegetables, herbs, or fruits provides a great sense of joy and accomplishment. A vegetable garden can also reduce the
family’s food budget, and it can be a source of hard-to-find vegetables such as kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, horseradish, salsify, and pak choi. One of the main reasons that people garden is that vegetables from the supermarket cannot
compare in taste, quality, or freshness with vegetables grown in the home garden. The vegetable garden has
traditionally been located in an area separate from other parts of the landscape because it was considered
unsightly. With proper
planning, however, the garden can
be both functional and attractive.
Landscape designers today often
incorporate edible plants into
many areas of the home landscape
and ornamental plants such as
flowering annuals into the vegetable
garden. This gardening philosophy,
coupled with our favorable
climate, can offer gardening
opportunities nearly all year long.