Hi GPODers!
Gardeners tend their landscapes for a wide variety of reasons, but one reason is the most prolific and historic: To produce food. While this might conjure images of huge farms with expansive fields of crop, or simple raised beds full of fluffy greens, the healthiest vegetable gardens are often also filled with flowers. Mark Montgelas has shared photos of his small but spectacular vegetable patch in Vermont, and shows that growing food can be a gorgeous endeavor.
Greetings, the following pictures are from my garden in Ludlow, Vermont. My tiered garden is located on Okemo Mountain where we summer. I thought you might like a little change featuring a mostly vegetable garden that includes many companion flowers and flowering veggies. The garden includes many flowering pole beans, gorgeous cucumbers, tomatoes and winter squash. Some of the companion flowers include Valkyrie aster (Callistephus chinensis ‘Valkyrie’, annual), Cactus zinnia (Zinnia elegans ‘Cactus’, annual), calendula, marigold and nasturtium. So much fun to grow and rewarding for my delicious seasonal treats.
To begin, a wide view of Mark’s garden shows that the companion flowers aren’t the only plants adding beauty to the space. Climbing vines from pole beans and squash create vertical interest along every trellis and structure.
Companion plantings, of course, are not just there to make the vegetable garden a little prettier. These beneficial blooms attract a variety of pollinators that help pollinate Mark’s plants and hopefully lead to a more abundant harvest. One of these pollinators is a pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos) enjoying a bright orange nasturtium.
Though we often associate pollinating with bumblebees and butterflies, some less-loved insects play this vital role as well. Wasps also rely on nectar for energy, as this one is collecting from a purple Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum, Zones 3–8), and will disperse pollen as it travels from flower to flower. Some plants, like figs, are completely reliant on wasps for pollination. Read more on wasps from the U.S. Forest Service: Wasp Pollination.
Lastly, an Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) enjoying a sweet sip from some pink and yellow calibrachoa blooms.
Thank you so much for sharing your mighty and marvelous veggie garden with us, Mark! I’m gearing up for seed starting soon and you’re inspiring me to add more companion plants to my list this year.
And a lovely reminder that we enjoy seeing gardens of all shapes, sizes, and purposes on Garden Photo of the Day! Whether you grow strictly for beauty, for the delicious fruit you produce, or the food and shelter you’re able to provide for crucial insects and wildlife, follow the directions below to show us how and why you garden.
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