Summer Garden Beds

The garden this year is filled with experiments as I am learning to grow new varieties of flowers and vegetables. It has been a cool June in central California, so the yard is lush and green. Our elevated garden beds are packed with herbs and vegetables while most of the flowers are still in seed trays waiting to be planted for late summer blooms.

The combination of herbs and vegetables in these small elevated garden beds has proven to be helpful in deterring pests. Nasturtiums and parsley help keep the insects away while basil planted near tomatoes adds to their flavor.

Elevated wooden beds were chosen because they can be placed on the grass and easily moved or removed. While the weather was cool there were snow peas and many varieties of lettuce in the beds and now that it is warming up I’ve added tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and cantaloupe interplanted with a mix of different herbs.

Greek oregano is a staple in our kitchen during the spring and summer months. Its fresh herbal flavor is delicious with chicken. Light summer cooking is always enhanced with fresh herbs!