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| Behind the grove looking over the north field |
A
couple of weeks ago, I was really frustrated about my garden at the farm. If
gardening is an exact science, I am clueless. The Montmorency sour cherry tree
is in distress. Nothing seems to germinate in my raised beds. The raspberry
patch is on the pitiful side. I just wanted to sit down and eat worms. Gardening
is a lot of work just to watch it fail. But enough of the maudlin. I mustn’t give
up.
I
always think of the farmyard in terms of a wonderful country garden – you know,
daisies and dahlias and peonies and roses – but that just isn’t going to
happen. I am a believer in environmental change. We have little summer rainfall
now and weeks of high temps. So, I said to Mike, “Why don’t we just plant perennial
drought-tolerants and see what happens?” He was all for it, especially on the
bank at the back of the house, which is difficult to mow.
So,
I went shopping for perennial water-wise plants but experienced sticker shock
at the nursery. How much do I – or more to the point, how much does Mike – want
to gamble on this experimental project? I decided I needed to think about it
and quietly made to leave, but just then a passing shopper said, “That basket
is empty.”
“Yes,”
I said in apologetic tones. “I just can’t make up my mind to pay the price.”
“It’s
wasted
effort to plant seeds this year,” she said. “If you want a garden,
you’re going to have to buy the plants.” She seemed to be an authority. I
left the nursery empty-handed but feeling better about my gardening
efforts. If other
gardeners are struggling . . . well, misery loves company.
So,
I took Mike with me to the garden department at the local mart, and we selected
four potted “sun-loving” perennials for that problematic bank. Four potted zinnias
in the clearance section also called to me, reminding me of that picture of Grandma
Ina and Aunt Lynn in front of their beautiful garden. Yes, the zinnias
looked tough, but they still had promise, and at 69 cents each, I figured I
couldn’t go far wrong. Then I paid an exorbitant $3.00 per plant for two summer
squash. 
When
we got back to the town house with our box of plants, Mike set them in the
shade under the maple tree, one of Bess’ lounging areas. When she spied that
box in her place, she was taken aback. “Arrrooo! Bark! Bark! Bark, bark!” she
exclaimed. Silly Bess!
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| Much more to be done here |
3 comments:
Plants *have* gotten so expensive! We have two big pots in front of our house every summer and even with overwintering them in the sunroom, we always need to buy some annuals to fill in each year. I couldn't believe how much our little boxful cost! But I do love the color when I take the time to stand back and look. I just took the garbage can out and admired as I walked back to the house. Pretty yards are a joy. (Please, please do not look at our back yard!)
"Pretty yards are a joy." I was just messaging with daughter Hallie about vintage yards. I feel another yard post coming on. Sometimes the muse is busy!
I just always think twice about the cost of the plants because they might die -- and often do, especially when I order them. I try to buy locally, but that limits the variety. As you point out, though, the plants do much to beautify our homes, and that's good.
If it wasn't for Dan, our plants wouldn't stand a chance. However, having said that, I do water the pots in the front and on the deck, but I think it's just because I am reminded to when I see those bright flowers waving at me. He's the one who plants and remembers to bring them in in the fall, clips them back, and fertilizes them. I guess they're just smaller, more colorful "trees" to him.
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