The Harvey Garden in Texas

My name is Ryan Harvey, and I have been gardening with my wife, Kristin, and our Yorkie, Emmitt, for eight many years in Austin, Texas, Zone 8b. We emphasis mostly on edibles, perennials, indigenous plants, and taking pleasure in views of the backyard and wildlife. It all began with a single backyard garden mattress in the midst of dying grass, previously useless clay soil, and invasive working bamboo that threatened to acquire in excess of our residence by itself. Many years later on, our a single-sixth-acre whole lot has more than 100 trees on it, multiple vegetable beds, and plenty of native and tailored perennial crops. Paths hook up various outside rooms we have designed close to our home, just about every of which is a seating location from which to delight in our National Wildlife Federation–certified habitat. Sharing our backyard with other individuals is a single of our fantastic joys, and we shell out as considerably time exterior in it as we can.

The birds, insects, and other animals, which includes our kale-loving canine, give us far more than ample amusement. Due to the fact most of our fruit-developing trees and shrubs are younger, we are energized to commence harvesting this bounty in the coming several years, sharing it with our outside wildlife mates, of system.

A large, aromatic flower of Datura inoxia (Zones 9–10 or as an once-a-year) is backed up by the magenta bouquets of rock rose (Pavonia lasiopetala, Zones 7–9).

A gingko tree (Gingko biloba, Zones 5–9) is dressed in gold for the drop.

A monarch butterfly sips nectar from a zinnia (Zinnia elegans ‘Will Rogers’, annual).

The yard is entire of life, providing elegance and food items for human and nonhuman inhabitants.

Just one of the nonhuman inhabitants is Emmitt, who is a substantial supporter of kale.

Paths wind through the garden beds, with every little thing thickly mulched to preserve h2o and suppress weeds.

An abnormal banana assortment, Musa ‘Truly Tiny’ (Zones 8–11) is an very little variation of the traditional Cavendish banana you are used to shopping for at the grocery keep. The little sizing implies it can be grown to make fruit even in climates the place you need to overwinter it indoors.

This tasty-wanting salad was harvested fully from the back garden, with edible passionflower (Passiflora incarnata, Zones 6–10) blooms building it lovely as properly as tasty.

This is a lush and effective yard area.

If you’d like to see additional from this backyard, verify out Ryan and Kristin’s Instagram: @theharveygarden

Have a yard you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d like to see your backyard, a individual collection of plants you appreciate, or a amazing backyard you had the chance to pay a visit to!

To post, deliver 5-10 pictures to [email protected] along with some details about the vegetation in the pics and where by you took the pictures. We’d appreciate to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are very pleased of, failures you learned from, hopes for the potential, favored vegetation, or funny stories from your backyard garden.

Have a mobile telephone? Tag your pictures on Fb, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

Do you receive the GPOD by e-mail nonetheless? Sign up below.