The Elegant and Edible Garden

January 3, 2022
“Even without great expertise, deep pockets, or a makeover television crew, you too can create a garden that appeals to all your senses,” promises garden stylist Vater in her gorgeous debut. A self-taught vegetable and fruit gardener, Vater writes that her goal is to “flatten the learning curve for designing a beautiful, edible garden,” and, accordingly, her to-the-point advice is to “just begin.” Her tips aren’t about soil pH or double-digging—instead, she touts the “romance” of a garden by combining edibles and ornamentals, and lays out her philosophy in three parts.“Aspiration” covers beauty and style and encourages readers to find a “dream garden” to emulate, then work to make it their own with changes and omissions; “inspiration” considers design and organization, and outlines such principles as color, framing, and structure; and “motivation” looks at the power of stewardship (“take ownership of caring for the garden you tend by learning, watching, listening, and enjoying”) and Earth-friendly gardening (“Be water wise”), and celebrates growing as a “linchpin” of life. The author’s appreciation for her craft is infectious, and her writing is as delectable as the full-color photos. Gardening newbies will appreciate Vater’s cool counsel.