Tips for Growing a Bountiful Urban Garden

Designer, artist and lifestyle expert Vivian Reiss grows a whimsical mix of edibles and flowers in front of her home in  the historic Annex in downtown Toronto. Her garden mixes 16'-tall  Hungarian broom corn with red amaranths, zinnias, eggplants, kale,  artichokes and more in a happy tumble of colors and forms. Don't let a  small space limit you, she says. "Think big," and vary the  heights of your plants for excitement. "Think of your garden as a  canvas."

People come from all around to see Reiss' city garden. She uses an edging of brightly colored, plastic tulips to define her dense plantings. Nasturtiums and other trailing or low-growing plants are tucked into the beds and allowed to spill gracefully onto her walkways. "Part of the garden design allows for that. It's okay to have a gentler border so plants can grow onto the stones."

Reiss, who is also an artist and interior designer, plays with color and whimsical designs in her backyard urban garden. This textile theme was inspired by the mill her father owned in New Jersey. "The grass becomes a background of solid color," she explains, for beds that include paisley shapes. The small area doesn't constrain her plantings or statuary, like the giant teak elephant from India.

When a mulberry tree had to come down in her yard, Reiss put wheels on several slices to make portable tables that double as stools. The giant scissors behind them are part of her textile theme. "Pack things in tightly," she says, "to make the most of your space. Lots of shapes make a very exciting garden." Although most of her plants are edibles, "the garden looks decorative," she adds. "Plant at least some edibles. You'll really enjoy picking and eating them."