Stephanie Alexander and her work establishing kitchen gardens in primary schools throughout Australia has been recognized by Kitchen Gardeners International [ KGI ].
Stephanie and her kitchen garden foundation have been responsible for initiating kitchen garden programs in 408 schools Australia - wide. As a result 50,ooo children are actively learning to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food.

Read about 10 Inspiring Women Moving the World's Food Garden Needle

Flowers have long been recognized for their brilliant colours and distinctive fragrances. A select number of flowers also have the unique ability to be intergrated within our diet. The following flowers are worthy additions to kitchen gardens.

1. Borage
Borago officinalis
The small blue star shaped flowers have a faint cucumber flavour. Ideal for crystallising to decorate cakes and desserts. Fresh flowers can be floated on top of all sorts of drinks or scattered over a green salad.The flowers freeze well. Try putting them one by one in an ice - cube tray and gently covering them with water.
A flowery ice block make an excellent addition to a gin and tonic. Pimms Punch is a refreshing summer drink.

Pimms Punch
Serves 6

1 bottle of Pimms No.1 Cup
1 large bottle lemonade
plenty of ice cubes
2 handfulls freshley picked wild strawberries
1 handfull freshly picked mint sprigs
10 borage flowers

Longer days and warmer weather provide you with the opportunity to spend extended time outdoors in your garden.To maximise the full potential of your garden in spring, you'll need to consider implementing some fundamental practices and techniques.

1. Weeds
A weed is defined as a plant growing in an undesired place. Not only are they unsightly, but they are also competing with your plants for water, light and nutrients. Concentrate on removing large varieties and seeds that may have germinated from other plants. Smaller weeds will be suppressed when you apply mulch at a later stage.

2. Fertiliser
Your plants are feeling hungry right about now! Consider applying a slow release pelleted organic based fertiliser . Follow up with  a liquid application of a fish or seaweed based product. Aim to apply the liquid solution every 2 - 3 weeks. Remember to water the garden before and after broadcasting the pelleted fertiliser.

3. Wetting Agent
Certainly not a necessity but worthy of consideration.Useful as an aid to maximise water penetration to the root zone of plants, pots and lawns. An application will be effective for up to six months.

4. Mulch
A 10 - 20 cm layer of organic mulch on the soil surface has several benefits . Mulches reduce the evaporation of water from the soil, provide added nutrients, suppress weeds, protect surface roots and help moderate soil temperature.Especially important for young trees, shrubs or perennials that have been newly planted. Remember to take into account that mulch is best applied to damp soil.

5. Trees , Shrubs and Perennials
Determine and finalise any plant selections that will fulfill specific functions within your garden .Plant container grown specimens and take advantage of the premium growing conditions that spring provides.
It will be beneficial to allow the plants to establish themselves before the onset of summer.

6. Lawns
It takes alot of T.L.C to keep your lawn in tip top condition. Established lawns benefit from being scarified, aerated and top dressed in spring [ or Autumn ]. These jobs are often neglected and can be quite labour intensive. If you place a high emphasis on the appearance of your lawn, it is definitely worth considering undertaking these tasks. It is also the ideal time to feed your lawns. Choose a fertiliser with a high Nitrogen [ N ] ratio. Remember to water your lawn before and after broadcasting the fertiliser.

7. Vegetables and Herbs
Even a small garden [ also balconies ] can yield satisfactory quantities of produce provided two key elements are realised. Vegetables and herbs [ to a lesser degree ] require on average  4- 6 hours of direct sunlight [facing north, north-east ]and a consistent supply of water.If you can meet these requirements, it increases the likelihood of your kitchen garden being a success.Plan to plant varieties that best suit your needs. Some options to consider are basil, beetroot, capsicum, carrot, chervil, chilli, chives, coriander, cucumber, dill, ginger, lettuce, parsley, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, tomato and zucchini.

8. Pests and Diseases
Begin to make their presence felt in spring and are prone to attack newly formed foliage and flowerbuds.
Make it a habit of inspecting plants regularly and identify any problems. Early detection and control can minimise the damage that may occur. Any spraying should be carried out early morning or evening when beneficial insects such as bees and ladybirds are less likely to be active. Make sure conditions are still and avoid spraying if rain is forecast.

9. Pruning
Any winter flowering plants should have their spent flowers removed and pruned to shape. Follow the same principle for early spring flowering plants. Hedges and topiary will experience flushes of new growth and will require trimming to keep their appearance in order. Keep established citrus at a manageable height by pruning to shape.

10. Irrigation
Monitor your watering system and repair any apparent defects. Modify the system to suit your gardens requirements and aim to use water efficiently and productively. It is better to soak the soil from time to time than to water sparingly every day. Soaking encourages your plants to grow deeper, stronger and more resilient root system. Your best option is to water early in the morning.

 Share your thoughts
Do you have any tips that we have overlooked ?