This Gorgeous Yard Proves a Flower-Filled Meadow Is Possible, Even in a Small Space

Helianthus annus ‘Sonja’

Word by Matt de Neef, The Conversation

Astronaut Steven Swanson tending to the Veggie garden on the International Space Station. Image credit: NASA

At times, usually when I supposed to be doing something else because I’m a grad student and procrastination of some form seems to be part of the gig, I find myself planning what plants I would include in an imaginary biodome on a inhospitable planet many astronomical units away. Imaginary biodomes are one of my favourite thought exercises – to me it is the perfect fusion of my love of space exploration and my attempts to grow as much as my own food as I can in my small backyard.

The microbes (bacteria, algae and fungi) that coexist with plants influence everything from fruit colour and flavour to yield. How would microgravity affect this complex ecosystem? A new experiment on the International Space Station aims to answer that very question.

Header image: Artemis-1 on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Centre. NASA

Header image: This lettuce produces a bone-stimulating hormone that could help stave off bone loss in space and on Earth. Image credit: Kevin Yates

In this episode, Emma the Space Gardener talks to Vertical Veg Man Mark Ridsdill Smith, an expert on small space gardening on Earth. Small space gardening shares many of the same constraints facing space gardeners, although harvesting runner beans up a ladder isn’t one of them!

NASA has announced grants or cooperative agreements for seven exciting new space biology investigations to advance our understanding of how plants respond, acclimate and adapt to the space environment, in support of human space exploration.

I’ve been asked many times, “What’s a great plant for a small space?” As land becomes more expensive and first-time home buyers are starting out, there are lots of properties that consist mainly of small outdoor spaces that need to be filled with size-appropriate plants. People are often discouraged and think they can’t have a beautiful garden because of limited space. But a small space is often the perfect place to start gardening. For those of us with larger overall landscapes, there is often an undersized hole in a bed that needs to be filled but we can’t think of something that will work. The following are a few great choices for those who are looking to start a garden on a limited footprint or to fill a tight spot within a larger framework.

Have you ever heard that planting a small garden is like writing a short story instead of a novel? Well, I hadn’t either—until Los Angeles designer Adam Sirak said it—and I think it’s brilliant. “Some people might think they can’t have an amazing garden or that it’s not worth the trouble because they don’t have a big space,” Sirak says. “But a small space only means you have to take all your ideas and distill them down to a concentrated big idea.” He adds that, as with a short story, there’s no room for filler, and each choice must be thought of in relationship to the whole. “In this way, a small space can be a very exciting puzzle to put together,” he says.  

The ‘80s film Back to the Future (and its subsequent sequels) are total classics, and while fans will most definitely remember the comedic one-liners, storylines, and iconic characters, there are also some noteworthy architecture and design moments. Doc Brown’s home in the film is the Gamble House in Pasadena, California, a stunning, historic example of the Arts and Crafts movement designed by influential 20th century architects Charles and Henry Greene. Movie fans still flock to the location to take photos and go on tours.