Glads sometimes get a bad rap. Quite honestly, I never could fathom why these infinitely happy flowers were snubbed just because they cheer people up when they are in mourning. The only problem that I have with glads is their height—which makes them tough to integrate seamlessly into a garden. So when Longfield Gardens offered the shorter Sunset Glamini Blend, I jumped for it.
And I saw no reason why I should keep these glads from mingling with the rest of the scene here. I’ve always been a strong advocate for blurring the lines between gardens. Why should vegetables be kept separate from blossoms? Granted, it’s tricky to merge perennials into a garden that is replanted frequently throughout the season. But annual bulbs seem like a natural for the job of joining flowers and food. The mini glads are particularly apropos.
THE CONCEPT:Let’s face it, the vegetable garden could use a little brightening up. Asparagus is all well and good, but why not tuck in some bulbs between its shoots to everyone’s benefit? I happen to have a large, round vegetable garden surrounded by a ring of asparagus. When it grows up, the asparagus looks fairly nice—but it could use a little color sprinkled in. THE SOLUTION:
So I decided to partner asparagus and glads, letting them support one another. In midsummer, asparagus needs to be allowed to grow up into its ferny stage and gather energy for the following year. With glads interspersed, it looked like a massive bouquet. Then, to take it one step further, I planted the Glamini Blend in a container of 'Astia' zucchini and they were perfect pot mates. Food for both body and soul.