SAN MATEO, CA. Luciole Design's concept, "Sustainable | Cultural | Edible Retreat" was seen by over 30,000 people during the Flower & Garden Show.

This was Luciole Design's first entry at this show. The design was meant to be more realistic and accessible than the average show garden so that people could see an example of a sustainable garden done in a style that did not feature extensive use of meadow grasses.

"Most edible gardens require intensive cultivation and feature annual crops," said Mike Heacox of Luciole Design. "We want to create something using perennial plants that require little maintenance, drawing from multiple cultures." He adds that many plants cultivated in arid areas are edible, conserve water, and often have interesting forms and colors.

"The garden also needs to be a nice place to be in a stressful world," adds Annette Heacox, also of Luciole Design. "It will have color, drama and movement - along with some interesting sustainable furniture suitable for outdoor use."

The design features bamboos supplied by Instant Jungle nursery in Cotati, who also supplied the palms. These plants have tasty edible shoots, and can be watered with gray water. Other non-traditional edibles are palms whose fruits taste something like mandarin oranges, agave, prickly pear, and possibly mesquite. Other than the bamboo, the garden would consume little water yet be a source of things for nibbling or cooking.

It will feature tile supplied by Fireclay Tile of San Jose, rock and gravel by Lyingsø Landscaping materials, and some other fun features like a cracked boulder planted with succulents.

Plants other than the bamboo and palms were sourced from Serra Gardens in Fallbrook, loaned by Sierra View Nursery in Loomis, or were purchased from various vendors in San Mateo.

Sustainable, Edible, Multicultural Retreat Garden Wins Bronze Medal in San Francisco.

Fire pit and chairs by Creo Concrete Studio.

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Ghost plant in rock.

Mosaic inlay in table