Edible Shade Garden & Patio

This backyard oasis came with a number of design challenges, including a steep grade, significant shade, and major seasonal drainage problems. Problems are often opportunities in disguise, and these design constraints have resulted in a lush, multi-layered landscape filled with shade-loving edible and medicinal plants, a seasonal creek and raingarden, dramatic stone steps and bridge, and an outdoor entertaining space that hosted a family wedding shortly after completion. Edible plant highlights include ostrich and licorice ferns, blueberry, huckleberry, lingonberry, elderberry, currants, silverberry, hosta (yes, hosta are edible!) and much more, including culinary and medicinal mushrooms that will be added in the spring.