Today I’ve got a special sneak peak of Laura Niemi and Pat LaGrego’s gorgeous Seattle garden. This is a garden defined by details–artwork hangs on the fence, vegetables mingle with flowers and plants are placed in spots that capture the afternoon light. I walked out of it inspired and encouraged, because in creating their garden, Laura and Pat completely dismissed the notion that vegetable gardens must be boring (or unattractive) and instead created a beautiful space that celebrates all things edible.

Big, bold vegetables create an architectural presence in the garden. Here ‘Lacinato’ kale (also called Dino Kale) marks the edge of a path. ‘Trombetta’ summer squash scramble up a trellis made from a panel of concrete reinforcing wire.

Pat stung thick rope between fence posts in the sidyard and then trained boysenberries to grow along the rope. It looks amazing and creates a living screen between the pathway and their neighbor’s windows.

The potting bench provides a convenient place to start plants and it serves as a gallery for an eclectic collection of toys and vintage kitchenware. Check out the stack of colanders. Pat and Laura use them to collect veggies, which are then ready to wash in their outdoor sink.

Instead of using plastic cell packs, these gardeners recycle newsprint into biodegradable seedling pots. When I visited the garden they had trays of fall peas lining the potting bench.

On summer evenings Pat and Laura like to serve home brews (made with homegrown hops) to friends on their patio. Little lanterns like this one help light up the night.

I love the idea of attaching a shelf to the fence to store tools and other garden odds and ends.  And note the basket. It’s filled with little vases so Laura always has one handy when she wants to make a bouquet. I’m on the hunt for a cool wire basket so I can use this idea in my garden next summer.

The cutest accessory in the garden just might be Slink the Cat, who spends most days sunning himself on the pathways. Lucky guy!