Beautiful gardens are in the eye of the beholder.

That held true for me recently as I strolled through the Denver Botanic Gardens. Even though all the gardens were blooming in spectacular style, it was the vegetable and herb plantings that made the biggest impression on me.

Leafy greens add color and texture all season long

Outside the Welcome Center was a long border of mixed leafy greens that should convince all gardeners to add curly kale, cabbage, and basil to their annual and perennial beds. The combination of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures is as lovely as any flowery ornamental bed I’ve seen.

There were several striking displays inside the gardens as well. In a long planter, the gardeners have mixed green and red leaf lettuce with large-leafed spinach and peas. These veggies were interplanted with purple petunias for a stunning display.

To make the most of planting like this, repeat the pattern throughout the planter, and place the peas along the planter’s edge so they can drape over the sides.

Clean lines are a classic technique for beautifying an edible garden

The pièce de résistance of the Denver vegetable gardens is the La Potager, a gift from the Ladd Family. La Potager is a vegetable gardener’s dream come true.

This gorgeous garden, artistically designed by the gardens’ senior horticulturist Ebi Kondo, features picture-perfect plantings. I was especially impressed with all of the tidy rows of vegetables planted next to lines of colorful flowers in the beautifully designed space.

Some of the interesting lettuces planted in one square space made up of four triangles include a large-leaf red lettuce called ‘Rouge d’ Hiver’, a lettuce with spiky green leaves called ‘Reine Des Glaces’, and a small-leaf red lettuce called ‘Lollo Rossa’.

I’d love to know the secret of planting such perfect rows, because not a single plant was out of place.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Plant Covers Freeze Protection 10 ft x 30 ft Floating Row Cover 0.9oz/yd²

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Lightweight and Breathable MATERIAL Good for protecting Plant: the plant frost cover material is 0.74 oz/sq non-woven polypropylene fabric, which is lightweight, breathable, and durable. The plant blanket frost protection allows sunlight reach the plants, perfect for protecting plants from the damage of freeze or frost. Wide Application In your Garden Work. The plant row cover not only can work as a barrier against frost, but also can be a great tool for germination and good for rapid seedling growth. By using the fabric plant covers over your plant, you can start the plant earlier in the spring and extending the growing season of your plants. How to Use the Plant Covers: you can cover the plant covers for freeze over your the plants loosely directly and then secure the plant frost blanket with soil, stones or staples. You can also support the floating row covers with a hoop, make enough room for plants to breath and grow. You could also cut the plant covers into different sizes for different purposes.

Buy at Amazon

Fort Vee - Organic Potting Soil Mix

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

PRODUCT DETAILS: Vermont Compost Company Fort Vee Organic Potting Mix A rich, organic, compost-based potting soil that is ideal for growing your veggies, Plants, and herbs free from any harmful chemicals. Our all natural mixed organic garden soil is composed of all-natural ingredients our Plants needed to grow naturally and is a great choice for gardeners who prefer compost-based germination and growing medium. Product Weight: 20 Quarts

Buy at Amazon

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon