Practical, Pretty and Functional Garden

I'm practical and pragmatic.  Boring.  

In my field writing functional goals is critical to meeting them.  To write a goal that makes sense to someone else but not to the one whose goal it belongs to...is SENSELESS!

The same thinking relates in gardening.   Why should I make a garden that works for someone else- somewhere else when I need to plan and design what works for me.

Design is such an intimidating word.  Especially for someone who does not have an artistic bent.  

As I've read and thought about this...design is just planning.  Planning what works in my soil, my garden, and in my life.

It isn't bulldozing what I have and installing the "perfect" garden.  I will never have the money or time to have a perfect garden.  Next best thing?

A functional one.

My design process:

Draw out what I have to work with.

Think about what flowers and vegetable plants that I want.  

What is the most important aspect to me?  How can my garden work for my family? Reducing  food cost is huge.  Creating a place to rest and enjoy.  

So I need to take into account the "opportunity cost" involved.  What is going to give me the biggest bang for my buck!  If I just buy flowers then I won't have enough for vegies.

Keeping my dream alive about what I would love to do or have and yet cutting myself some slack.

I'm not getting discouraged that I can't get my fence up or have an arbor etc. What I can do is put up a cow panel that vines will cover.

 

Keep my personality in mind.  

For example... I love to wander, meander and do bits here and bits there.  

Last year I tucked herbs in one flower bed and zucchini behind it.  

This year's plans?  Building two more raised beds and planting my squash in a totally new unused and ugly spot between the garage and a fence.  Adding different lettuces and plants such as Kale and Chard to flower beds away from my "garden beds."  I can't wait!