One of my favorite sights a few years ago, was a front yard entirely planted with vegetables. There were cucumbers, cabbages, lettuce and even a few tomatoes. When I asked the owner why he had decided to get rid of his lawn, he said "Why not? The lawn wasn't doing me any good!".

I think all of us could take a lesson from him. Why not use vegetables and herbs interplanted with some of the more common bedding plants? Most vegetables are actually very attractive plants which produce flowers before fruiting.

In my limited space I do a lot of container herb and vegetable growing. I like watching them grow right next to me as I sit on the deck. Another advantage is that the herbs all smell wonderful and I can reach over and pick a sprig while I'm relaxing. After a rainfall the whole backyard is filled with the different aromas.

Another good way to maximize your growing area, is to plant vertically. There are many climbing vegetable and fruits which do well on a trellis. Some good ones are cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, pole beans, scarlet runner beans, edible pod peas, or hardy kiwi.

Some of my favorite plants for your edible landscape are:

• 1. Chamomile--A small daisy-like flower. The German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is the one that you dry for chamomile tea. It isn't a perennial, but always self sows in my garden. The Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is considered a perennial (but isn't here in Minnesota!), and has a wonderful fragrance but isn't as good in tea.
• 2. Chives--Many people call this onion grass and it's one of the easiest herbs to grow. Its good with cottage cheese and dips. I think it makes a nice tidy border for the perennial garden. When it gets too tall and starts to flop over, just cut it down to the ground and it will come back bigger and better.
• 3. Cucumbers--I can never resist planting these somewhere. I never get that many cukes, but I like to watch them grow and their yellow flowers are beautiful.
• 4. Lemon Balm--Another easy herb that grows about anywhere. It can look a little weedy at the end of the season, so keep it trimmed. Use the trimmings in any dish that calls for a lemon flavor.
• 5. Monarda (Bee Balm)--My favorite flower. I grow it everywhere because of the vibrant red flowers. The leaves have a minty fragrance and can be used in your herb teas.
• 6. Oregano--The common oregano is a hardy ground cover that you can use for all your italian dishes. It has pretty pink flowers that the bees love.
• 7. Parsley--Use this bienniel between all your flowers in your pots. It has healthy green foliage all summer long that makes any flower next to them look even better.
• 8. Rhubarb--It's a lovely plant which doesn't deserve the soldiers-all-in-a row treatment it gets in many yards!
• 9. Sage--It's not alway reliably hardy here, but is worth replanting if necessary. A lovely silver accent in the garden which can be used often in the kitchen.
• 10. Salad Burnet (Poterium Sanguisorba)--This is a perennial that is easily grown outdoors from seed. It looks like miniature ferns and tastes and smells just like a cucumber. Great for salads and for those who can't eat real cukes.
• 11. Rhubarb Swiss Chard--One of the most attractive vegetables. The sun shining through the red leaves looks just like stained glass. Good raw in summer salads.
• 12. Eggplant--I grew mine in a pot this year so I could enjoy the beautiful blue flowers and purple fruits up close.

Edible landscaping is a wonderful way for all of us to have productive yards (no matter how small the gardening space!).