This year was an experiment in edible landscaping on the sly. We moved to a quiet little neighborhood which has an active homeowner’s association. I didn’t know there were rules for our little acre, I just knew the sad landscaping we bought into had possibilities. In my mind’s eye I saw forest gardens, vegetable gardens, a small orchard, maybe a sweet little henhouse. Not according to the rules. Ok, I can wait on the chickens and bees, but what about the rest? I have to have a garden.
Being one to beg forgiveness rather than to ask about every garden detail allowed, I launched. A few trees had to come down, well eight actually, but they were diseased or hanging over the roof…and casting too much shade. I held my breath, waiting for censorship; raised eyebrows and a few comments about the neighborhood’s beautiful mature trees were all that manifested.
With few sunny spots in the front yard, and none in the back, I began. Some evergreen shrubs disappeared… neighbors watched. A mason put a lovely stone wall around the Japanese maple in the front yard where the shrubs were…they stopped on their daily walks and watched. A flower border went in behind the low wall, lovely nasturtiums, marigolds and calendulas…ahhhh, that was ok.
Purple potato pots were hidden behind decorative pots of annuals. Herbs…they were association approved. Did they spot the kale, chard, arugula and strawberries? Not from the street apparently, but they watched.
I was succeeding with the stealth vegetables and even the raspberries were handsome in their wicker basket. The orderly blueberry border hid behind the daylilies. The plum, cherry and elderberries didn’t garner attention either, just predatory squirrels, raccoons and grandchildren.
It was the one little sprout of Zucchetta Rampicante that my daughter grew from seed that gave me away. This heirloom Italian zucchini grew like Jack’s proverbial beanstalk. I built it a lovely periwinkle blue trellis; my daughter snickered. It took over the trellis, then the entire garden, then 20 feet into the lawn, rife with snaky, suggestive zukes. If the squash hadn’t been so delicious I would have chainsawed it back within its boundaries. But this one squash plant could feed a third world country. Green it is just like a zucchini and left to ripen it tastes and keeps just like a butternut…a 12 pound butternut. A four foot butternut.
When new neighbors asked my husband which house was ours he answered “The one with the atomic squash.” Right, they knew immediately. Busted… guess I’ll have the neighbors over for dinner.
Cluxton Photography & Design 