The Garden
Today, I acknowledge and celebrate the plans that didn't work out as hoped or expected.
Not everything we envision turns out as we had hoped. My backyard gardens are illustrative. They were laid out by my partner with creativity and what seemed like inspiration...as he wandered over the half acre in back of the new house this spring, scratching the bare ground with a stick, drawing pathways and inter connected beds that radiated out from a central focal point. The lines reminded me of a petroglyph or a dream journey of an aboriginal resident of the "Out Back".
We decided on mulched pathways and then started filling the flower beds they created with heritage perennials and colorful annuals. The names of the plants were evocative of English Country Gardens....and considering the variations of color and texture and size...Miss Jane Marple would be envious of our handiwork.
Unfortunately what we failed to adequately note were the mundane elements of drainage, soil composition and fertility. The interaction of the clay soil, excessive rainfall and the sheer size of the project, leads me back to the opening obsrvation......sometimes things don't work out as hoped for or expected.
I am not discouraged and join the company of generations of gardeners....perhaps going back to Adam and Eve and those pesky shoots of Jesse in muttering something about "next year I will...." I am envisoning raised beds and berms and container gardens and wheel barrows full of manure and loam.
The basic structure of the yard is in place. The blue spruce is growing nicely in the center garden and the willows are all thriving; the lawn is getting greener and thicker and the crab apple tree sits on the grassy knoll where it will someday provide shade for the deck and a haven for the birds. The boarder garden, up near the deck where the drainage is good, is thriving and filled with the sunflowers , thyme, sage, sedums, marigolds and petunias rescued from the soggy abandoned gardens where they started.
Wait till "next summer".
Not everything we envision turns out as we had hoped. My backyard gardens are illustrative. They were laid out by my partner with creativity and what seemed like inspiration...as he wandered over the half acre in back of the new house this spring, scratching the bare ground with a stick, drawing pathways and inter connected beds that radiated out from a central focal point. The lines reminded me of a petroglyph or a dream journey of an aboriginal resident of the "Out Back".
We decided on mulched pathways and then started filling the flower beds they created with heritage perennials and colorful annuals. The names of the plants were evocative of English Country Gardens....and considering the variations of color and texture and size...Miss Jane Marple would be envious of our handiwork.
Unfortunately what we failed to adequately note were the mundane elements of drainage, soil composition and fertility. The interaction of the clay soil, excessive rainfall and the sheer size of the project, leads me back to the opening obsrvation......sometimes things don't work out as hoped for or expected.
I am not discouraged and join the company of generations of gardeners....perhaps going back to Adam and Eve and those pesky shoots of Jesse in muttering something about "next year I will...." I am envisoning raised beds and berms and container gardens and wheel barrows full of manure and loam.
The basic structure of the yard is in place. The blue spruce is growing nicely in the center garden and the willows are all thriving; the lawn is getting greener and thicker and the crab apple tree sits on the grassy knoll where it will someday provide shade for the deck and a haven for the birds. The boarder garden, up near the deck where the drainage is good, is thriving and filled with the sunflowers , thyme, sage, sedums, marigolds and petunias rescued from the soggy abandoned gardens where they started.
Wait till "next summer".
Total Comments 9
Comments
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WHEN buds arrives and beauty springs forth, you will lay amongst your labor and joy will float to heavens above.Posted 08-23-2008 at 07:58 AM by the painter
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Feel like I'm right there! LaceyPosted 08-23-2008 at 09:14 AM by LaceyEx
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Thanks, Elston, what a refreshing walk with you through your gardens..The crabapple tree will be so beautiful in the spring next year..Your border garden near the deck is vibrant with color and fragrance..Posted 08-23-2008 at 12:39 PM by Miss Blue
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I too agree, thank you for walking me through your garden. Not everything always goes as planned in the garden, but it will grow along with you.Posted 08-23-2008 at 04:02 PM by ~Boo~
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As you say, " wait till next year" Give it time, patience and tlc and soon your garden will be simply glorious!
Perhaps add some varigated hostas as a border, plant a rosa regusa or two for amazing scent and some wonderful peonies next year! Fill a whiskey barrel with nasturtiums and add the blossoms to your salads
Posted 08-23-2008 at 11:15 PM by moughie
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Gardens, esp veggie gardens, can be SO tough to get going...seems like every species needs something different! I gave up here in RI, as our soil is just too shady and rocky. Hope to have better luck in Maine - will be looking for land with a big garden in mind!Posted 08-24-2008 at 05:40 AM by Nor'Eastah
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Elston, I have such a visual of a beautiful place and I am GREEN with envy.
Now I know where I can come for some gardening advise as I am not too good with that. Ten years of trial and error.Posted 08-24-2008 at 08:20 AM by crazyworld
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Ah yes. Next year will be a wonder.Posted 08-26-2008 at 12:23 PM by genmomto5
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Beautiful,, you always manage to tug at my heart strings!Posted 09-20-2008 at 06:37 AM by dramamama6685
