The 1,200-square-foot Kitchen Vegetable Garden at the Virginia Robinson Gardens is a beautiful and 100% organic garden. Estate Caretaker Josh Johnston works alongside UC-certified Master Gardener Lucia Burke to plant many herbs and seasonally appropriate vegetables.
Josh and Lucia grow many varieties of flowers that attract pollinators as well as fruits like blueberries, strawberries, grapes, raspberries, and Kumquats. A chicken coop with hens provides fresh eggs daily. In this charming space is a picturesque, historic Orchid Greenhouse that was originally a gift to Mrs. Robinson from her close friend, composer Les Baxter. Thanks to author Robert S. Anderson, the Beverly Hills Rotary Club generously gave funds to restore the greenhouse in 2016.
Josh and Lucia keep the garden welcoming, fun, and special for the kids in the Children’s Science Program. Lucia shared, “In 2022, I was delighted to be hired to revive the Kitchen Garden. It has been a pleasure to plan the garden for the Children’s Science Program and be able to show the kids how we grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs. It grabs their attention to see how plants grow and encourages them to be inquisitive. I love working with children and teaching them the importance of growing food while respecting the Earth. I have as much fun as the kids!”
Lucia continued, “As we plan for Garden Tour this year, the most important factor to take into consideration is to figure out the right timing to plant. It’s not a very easy task! Because Garden Tour is in May, we have a short window between the time the cool-season crops are finished and when we replace them with the sun-loving ones, which is usually around March. The goal is to have veggies, flowers, and herbs all grown enough to look beautiful at Garden Tour!”
Josh added, “One cannot forget the boxwood hedges bordering the plots. We aim to have the boxwoods well-trimmed with fresh growth pushing forth. This means cutting the hedge 4-6 weeks ahead of Garden Tour.”
Don’t miss our beautiful and spectacular Garden Tour on May 17!
Post by Linda Meadows
Friends of Robinson Gardens Board Member, Editor of the Happenings
Photos by Josh Johnston and Lucia Burke
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