Dream Gardens: Planning for Reality
Some plants have remained evergreen (or, given my penchant for colored foliage, ever-purple.) But they are spotty, a dot of color here and there with no rhyme or reason to the planting. I make a note to rearrange these into drifts this spring, which will have more impact in the summer border as well as making a braver winter show.
Scrawling on the back of an envelope, I make a rough sketch of this, making notes about what will need to be moved to create this drifting effect. This is where the pictures are of great help. The pictures that I now see with new eyes - revealing not just the pretty plants of last sunner, but the holes the too-strangled masses and the design flaws.
It is a peaceful winter pasttime, making notes and plans about what I will move, what I will remove and that I will need to finally make this the garden of my dreams. I spent a lot of last summer sitting and staring at the gardens, trying to figure out what to do - but the distraction of what was blooming proved too great. Now there is nothing very distracting in the yard and I can finally settle down to realistic planning.
I use lots of paper. My drawing ability is nil, my first great ideas may not work out. Several years of getting to know these plants tells me that my first attempt at redesign will result in the same problems I have now. Zip - it whistles to the wastebasket. Try again. And again - until I am satisfied.
The only thing that stands between me and that dream garden now is my own fallibility. When I get out there in spring, will I be too weak-willed to actually discard that gorgeous chocolate eupatorium that just doesn't fit it ANYWHERE? Or will I stick it in somewhere just becauseit'sthere?
Will I have the physical strength to uproot the rampant artemisia that is causing half of my design woes? Maybe - if I somehow learn persistence during what remains of the winter.
And if I don't get overenthusiastic about ordering plants to fill the gaps my rearrangements have now created and if I stick to the plans I am enjoying the makings of so muchon this dreary winter day - perhaps I will be happy this year with the garden.
Atleast this snow has given me the canvas I
Latest Articles