This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
www.greenbuildermag.com 03.2012


Photo: mainstreet.wilton.nh.us


Photo: bidorbuy.co.za


Photo: sb.westfordk12.us


Photo: dfldesign.com


Photo: volstate.edu


BOTH BEAUTY AND SUSTENANCE HERBAL CARPET NUT TREES 33


Woody ornamentals such as lavender and rosemary can be used as not only edible, but also fragrant shrubs. Groundcovers such as mints, creeping thyme (shown), oregano, sweet potato, Malabar spinach, strawberries and passion fruit—while not suitable for heavy traffic or pets—can handle an occasional stroll.


Nut tree varieties, such as chestnuts and pecans, will grow quickly so that harvesting an annual, bountiful crop within six to 10 years is possible. Harvesting the “seeds” requires some work, of course, but chestnuts (shown) have seen a resurgence in popularity recently, and seedlings for various growing climates are available.


ESPALIER FRUIT TREES


Patios and pool areas can be accessorized with arbors of


beans, grapes, peas or passion fruit—to


provide shade during the hottest months, with periodic bursts of fruit and flowers.


SHADE VINES


Typically thought of for northern zones, flowering fruit trees—such as apples, peaches, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, olives and nectarines— with low-chilling hour requirements, can easily be obtained. The technique of trellising trees (shown), called espalier, makes growing trees practical, even on small urban lots.


SPICE TREES


Spice trees such as allspice, sweet bay, cinnamon, and nutmeg (shown) nurtured in containers and protected in subtropical climates or planted directly in the ground in tropical zones.


Photo: mupepesails.com


Sugar cane (shown below), corn, sunflowers, specific edible cultivars of bamboo and lemon grass can be used for privacy instead of the standard ornamental shrubs and grasses.


PRIVACY SCREENS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68