The Unruly Gardener
17/06/23 17:59 Perennials
When the plants were introduced 20 years ago, I made sure they understood the rules.
- I will water you for the first season so put down deep roots. After that, you are on your own.
- Don’t expect regular feeding.
- If you become overgrown or sickly, you will be removed.
The Unruly Gardener
I admit it. My perennial garden makes organized, disciplined viewers shudder. People often stop to look, to enjoy the blooms and inwardly groan about the work they believe must be involved. They are wrong.
However, this garden is well established and with the exception of some early spring weeding and thinning of plants, it looks after itself now. No, I am not joking. When the plants were introduced about 20 years ago, I made sure they understood the rules.
The garden has surpassed any expectation I had of its success. This year it is spectacular, despite the lack of rain. The cool nights have helped it flourish so much that it is a mass of colour with plants falling over each other for support. The garden and I are both a bit unruly, I suppose.
I love that look.
And so do many onlookers. Today, a long time resident of town stopped to say that he has always admired the garden and watched it grow and change over the years. I told him, “Part of that change is due to the plants rearranging themselves.” He looked surprised.
To have a garden that organizes itself is quite a phenomenon. Seeds spread, bulbs are moved by squirrels, plants die back and others take over. This garden does not look much like it did when first planted. Neither do I.
That is what I enjoy most about it. My garden is unpredictable, determined to survive and brings beauty to my corner in the town. At this time of year, I appreciate how the plants work together, how the colours blend and contrast but always look like they were meant to be side by side.
I’m glad to share a few of the hundreds of photos I have…taken in colour, with my phone! That is a confession of a photographer! Enjoy.
I admit it. My perennial garden makes organized, disciplined viewers shudder. People often stop to look, to enjoy the blooms and inwardly groan about the work they believe must be involved. They are wrong.
However, this garden is well established and with the exception of some early spring weeding and thinning of plants, it looks after itself now. No, I am not joking. When the plants were introduced about 20 years ago, I made sure they understood the rules.
- I will water you for the first season so put down deep roots. After that, you are on your own.
- Don’t expect regular feeding.
- If you become overgrown or sickly, you will be removed.
- When I am able to, I will be in the garden to weed or thin or enjoy. A regular schedule of attention is not going to happen.
The garden has surpassed any expectation I had of its success. This year it is spectacular, despite the lack of rain. The cool nights have helped it flourish so much that it is a mass of colour with plants falling over each other for support. The garden and I are both a bit unruly, I suppose.
I love that look.
And so do many onlookers. Today, a long time resident of town stopped to say that he has always admired the garden and watched it grow and change over the years. I told him, “Part of that change is due to the plants rearranging themselves.” He looked surprised.
To have a garden that organizes itself is quite a phenomenon. Seeds spread, bulbs are moved by squirrels, plants die back and others take over. This garden does not look much like it did when first planted. Neither do I.
That is what I enjoy most about it. My garden is unpredictable, determined to survive and brings beauty to my corner in the town. At this time of year, I appreciate how the plants work together, how the colours blend and contrast but always look like they were meant to be side by side.
I’m glad to share a few of the hundreds of photos I have…taken in colour, with my phone! That is a confession of a photographer! Enjoy.