French Potager Garden

This weekend, I plan on FINALLY getting started with planting my veggie garden after a long, rainy few weeks. Last year, I planted my first small veggie garden, and I loved harvesting fresh tomatoes, green peppers, yellow squash, jalapeno peppers, and herbs through the summer season. This year, I want to design and plant a French potager (poh – ta - zhay) garden. Nothing huge and fancy, but just a small one since this is my first time trying this method.

Basically, a French potager garden is a decorative veggie/kitchen garden. Traditionally, it’s an informal, garden filled with veggies, edible and non-edible flowers, and herbs. Everything is arranged in rows or geometric shapes, and plants are chosen for their ornamental aspects as well as their use in the kitchen. Plants are planted closer together than the traditional garden, and usually, the garden has a focal point, such as a trellis or cone-shaped stand with a vine, a bird bath, or an arch.

The French potager garden is also planted by season. When one season of veggies has completed, another season of veggies is planted in their place. I’m not sure if I am going to get into this aspect or not this year, but edible pumpkins and decorative gourds sound good to me for the fall season. We’ll see.

Here are some pictures of various styles and sizes of the French potager garden. Some are the traditional, informal, cottage style garden, and others are more formal. 

I love the cone-shaped stands in this garden.

 www.518design.com

The simplicity of Michael Devine's garden is so cute! 

Michael Devine's Potager Garden in Country Living

I can imagine myself here in this larger version but still somewhat simple potager.

Found on Google Search- Lisa Hubbard

 

The piece de resistance...

The Potager Garden at Chateau de Villandry - Villandry, France

What I plant really depends on what I find at my local garden store, but ideally this is what I would like to have in my potager:

Heirloom Tomatoes- I’ve read that these taste wonderful and look beautiful. 

Green Bell Peppers and Jalapeno Peppers – They don’t look fancy, but fresh peppers taste so much better than store bought! 

Squash – Yellow squash or zucchini

Flowers – I’d like to plant flowers around the outside of the garden as well as a couple alternating rows in between the veggie plants. These will include flowers for cutting as well as ground cover.

Herbs – Dill, Basil, Oregano, Chives

Focal Point - A Vine on a Trellis - some sort of pretty flowering vine, such as clematis or morning glory.

Later, I will show you some before and after pictures of my newly planted, French potager garden. Hopefully, it will turn out like I envision, and I’ll be reaping a beautiful bounty of fresh veggies and herbs and cutting some beautiful flowers through the year. 

Until then.... Au Revoir! 

Happy Birthday to my Super Man! - May 12, 2011

Since he was a little boy, my hubby has always loved Superman. His Dad told me that he took Mike to the theater to watch the Superman movie, and Mike was on the edge of his seat the whole time, wide-eyed, and glued to the screen. Can you imagine his cute little face? 

From that time until now, Superman has always been his favorite superhero, and he has loved everything about him. He loves all of the movies, tv shows, t-shirts, memorabilia, and trivia, and everyone knows about it. Friends of ours even bought him a Superman Snuggie. I know… scary.

Mike may not have X-ray vision, be more powerful than a locomotive, or have the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but he has some superhero qualities of his own. He deeply loves me, his family, and friends unconditionally and will do anything in his power for us. He is always available when someone is in need. He runs faster than the speed of light every morning to keep his well chiseled physique. Okay, maybe that last one is a bit of an exaggeration, but he is a superhero in my book!

 Me and My Super Man

Happy Birthday to my Sweetie, my Babycakes, my Super Man!!!! 

I Love You!!! 

Dear Mom,

I have many fond memories of watching and spending time with you. As a little girl, I remember you cooking kielbasa for supper (still one of my favorites!), and I remember you letting me sit on the crazy, vibrating washer as you did laundry. I remember watching you put makeup on and allowing me to put on a little lipstick, and I remember our expeditions to the thrift stores to find some “new” clothes.

 Mom and Me

You have always been my inspiration and example. You have strived to be a Godly woman. You took me to church, and you showed me through your everyday example how to read the Bible, pray, and live. Growing up, I remember seeing you sit in your chair and read your Bible early in the morning.  I didn’t know it then, but you were sparking my curiosity about spiritual things. As you fought and lived through breast cancer, I learned about keeping faith in God and never giving up. Through your perseverance and faith, and of course God's faithfulness, you, Dad, and I grew closer as a family.

 Me and Mom - College Years

Now you are still teaching me how to live, and you are always there for me even though we are in two different states. We still e-mail and talk on the phone about our daily lives, and you give me advice about life, faith, cooking, gardening, and whatever life throws at us.

Me, Mom, and Dad on their recent visit to PA

Thank you for always being there for me and for all you have done and will do. I love you and hope you have a wonderful Mothers Day!

 Mom's beautiful smile