In Conversation With...Eva Kosmas Flores

Since we last spoke, how have the Agriframes structures continued to shape and evolve your kitchen garden? What role have the Elegance Obelisk, Monet Arch and Round Screen played in the way you use and enjoy the space?

It's been really wonderful to be able to plan the garden each year with those tools and supports in mind. From a landscape design perspective, it's also been fun to envision what plants will look aesthetically beautiful with the supports, and will be able to use them as well. It's inspired me to branch out to more vining plants, like our sweet pea which got MASSIVE this spring! The blooms were heavenly and they absolutely loved climbing pup the Elegance Obelisk.

We also did peas on the Monet Arch this spring and they were wildly productive. It also created such a beautiful eye line down the center of the garden, ending in an arch of green. We've used the Round Screen next to our sauna with a creeping fig vine to give some privacy to that area, and it's been so nice to have a natural privacy screen rather than having to build a boring old fence.

Your garden beautifully combines productivity with artistry. What inspired your approach to creating a kitchen garden that feels both functional and inviting?

Thank you so much! I like having plants and garden structure-like supports with a variety of heights. I feel like it adds a lot of visual depth and intrigue to the garden. (That's why I especially love the obelisk supports, since there's a variety of sizes you can stagger throughout the garden.) I also am a big fan of color, so I try to mix in flowers with the herbs and veggies as well, since they do such a delightful job of bringing extra colors aside from just green - even though green is amazing and my favorite color, I love looking out to the garden and seeing a veritable rainbow!

What do you love most about growing vertically, and what advice would you give to someone looking to make the most of their growing space?

First of all, I love how much space it saves. If you have a limited amount of growing space, you can grow and harvest SO much food, even on a simple patio garden. Second, I love the whimsical look vertical gardening adds to the space. Vertical gardening tends to lend itself to sprawling plants or vines, and they just look so lovely with their wisps reaching out into the world, gently curling out from the supports. 

How have you used the Elegance Obelisk, Monet Arch and Round Screen to bring height, structure and character to your garden design?

Most definitely! I love that I have the garden ending in the Monet Arch, with the mountains silhouetted behind it. It adds a focal point that draws you to the plants at that end of the garden, and beyond. And in terms of utility, it's just so handy having strong supports that can handle vigorous vines or a heavy output of crops and veggies!

Which plants or crops have worked particularly well with these structures, and how have they changed the way you think about growing upwards?

The peas went crazy for the Monet Arch, I definitely want to plant them earlier next year because I think they could make it all the way across if I had started them about 4 weeks sooner. It was so easy to harvest them from the arch, too. We'd just stand under it and all the peas were dangling out ready for picking. I also love how the sweet pea vine did on the obelisk supports. I think next year I want to try and grow some vining flowers in alongside indeterminate tomatoes on the money arch. Maybe some morning glory! I'm just so excited to try something that's ready to climb.

Garden structures can be both practical and decorative. How important was it for you to choose pieces that support your plants while also becoming beautiful features within the garden?

It was incredibly important. I think my favorite aspects of them is that they combine the perfect mix of both form and function. They're very strong and sturdy, which is important because we get over 60mph winds here every year. The Columbia River Gorge is generally a very windy area. And they have withstood it no problem! And on the flip side, I love that they're designed beautifully too. Because aesthetics are important in a garden, they help shape the way you feel when you're in it and walking through it. They mold how you experience the physical space. So having something structural that looks whimsical or elegant really adds to that.

The Round Screen adds definition and creates a sense of place within your garden. How did you use it to shape the feeling or flow of your kitchen garden?

We just placed it next to our outdoor barrel sauna, with a creeping fig vine planted next to it. It's starting to reach the screen (it was a baby plant), but I know it grow vigorously once established so I'm so excited to have a beautiful wall of green vines creating some natural and whimsical privacy for that area. I wanted it to almost feel like a litle secret garden, and I think it will definitely have those vibes once everything grows in a bit by next spring!

What are your key tips for creating a productive kitchen garden that still feels beautiful, considered and enjoyable to spend time in?

I would say that you should walk the garden every day, and just do a little bit of weeding as you notice them coming up. Keeping the weeds at bay makes the garden look beautiful and inviting, and it also keeps you as a gardener from being stressed. Because when you procrastinate weeding, (or at least this is how I feel), they get to the point where they make things start to look dumpy, and then it's a bit stressful to look at and catch up on. I like walking the garden first thing in the morning with my cup of tea. It's just such a fantastic way to start the day, seeing what the plants are up to, pulling out any cheeky weeds that have come up, and coming back into the house with a big basket of veggies from the day's harvest.

For gardeners who may be working with a smaller space, how can vertical growing help them create a more abundant and inspiring garden?

If you're growing in a small space, vertical gardening is *everything*. It allows you to grow so much more food, since it doesn't need much of a footpring because the plant's space it going up rather than out to the sides. It also helps you get creative with your space, like the round privacy screen, for example. You could use it to shield your balcony or patio from the eyes of neighbors, while simultaneously growing a large crop of beautiful cherry tomatoes on it.

Looking back at your kitchen garden journey, what have these Agriframes structures added to your space and how have they helped bring your vision to life?

They've added beauty, whimsy, elegance, and most importantly, inspiration. They inspire me to think outside the box with my plantings, and experiment with varieties that would love climbing and go well with my garden as well as the supports themselves. I have a whole list of plants I want to try next year on the Agriframes supports, everything from black eyed Susan vines to hops to cucumbers. I feel like they give me something extra to look forward to each gardening season. It's just the cherry on top of the cake.