Designing a beautiful and bountiful balcony

Spring is lurking around the corner and now is the time to be thinking about planting your garden. For those trying to become more health conscious or trying to consume more organic foods, gardening has become increasing popular. You don't need a huge yard to have a bountiful garden this year. Instead of decorating the balcony, deck or porch with flowers this year, why not combine it with a vegetable and herb garden.

There is nothing more beautiful than a hanging basket of bright red strawberries or hanging tomatoes. Combining red, orange and yellow tomatoes in one container makes for a colorful, edible bouquet that will be the envy of the neighborhood.

Try planting pots of marigolds and carrots. The beautiful golden flowers compliment the feathery greens of the carrots. If you don't have a lot of room, plant vertically by using tiered pot holders and fill the pots with such things as blueberries, cabbages and zucchini. Be sure to plant the zucchini on the top so that the vines can flow downward like a waterfall.

Herbs are extremely fast growing and look beautiful in colorful ceramic pots. Combine basil, thyme, rosemary and oregano for your "Italian pot." Combine parsley and cilantro in another pot for your salad and salsa seasonings. A variety of lettuce also grows well in pots. Combine purple lettuce, arugula, romaine and leafy green for a succulent salad combination. Bonze Arrowhead is hailed as the most colorful and tasty lettuce for the home gardener and looks like a gorgeous oak leaf rosette.

As an added bonus to your beautiful balcony, gardens are great for your health. Gardening is a great stress reducer, which could actually lower your blood pressure. Produce is always freshest when just picked with little or no nutrient loss, and you are in control of when and if fertilizers and pesticides are used. Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables reduces your risks for developing many chronic diseases. So plant that bountiful balcony and you will find it almost impossible to not get at least five servings of fruits and veggies every day.