Wendy’s garden in May
I have been fortunate to get several gardening books for Christmas and two of my favorite books are about Gertrude Jekyll. Jekyll was probably the first preeminent female English garden designer and writer who did her main work at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. She designed over 350 gardens and wrote over 1,000 articles for magazines. My favorite thing about her (other than her famous herbaceous borders) is her philosophizing and musing about gardening. She sees gardens and gardening as a tremendous source of pleasure and hope:
“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.”
I have read time and time again and believe it firmly that a garden is hope.
When you plant a garden, you are investing in the future. You are creating a promise of future beauty and nourishment. So that is my theme for the New Year – Hope.
I used to carpool to work with an extremely thoughtful fellow teacher. He drove a beat up old car that leaked when it rained so if you sat in the back seat, you had to wear boots. He smoked a pipe and ran through every red light in the 20 minute drive from Newton to Lexington. (Well, it was Massachusetts where drivers believe that red lights are just a suggestion.) Occasionally, he would chew on his pipe and offer a profound observation. One day in the spring, he said “Ever notice how little old ladies always buy annuals?” I have often mulled over that statement and have firmly decided that this old lady prefers to foster lasting hope and will continue to plant perennials and shrubs. You must have hope and faith that there is a bright and shining future ahead for plants and people alike. Hope.
I have decided to make some gardening resolutions this year. It is certainly more cheerful than the usual shed ten pounds or to give up sugar. (It is difficult to binge watch the Great British Baking Show without eating.) Here are my non calorie related resolutions for 2025.
Resolution 1 – I am a plunker. I tend to plant one little plant here and one little plant there. I will work hard at overcoming this “plant plunker syndrome.” I will purchase multiples of each variety and plant them in a sweep or block for maximum impact.
Resolution 2 – I will try to use more native plants like Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolia), ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), and narrowleaf sunflower (Helianthus augustifolia). A southeastern native is the Perennial Plant Association’s Plant of 2025 – mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum). Native plants appear to hold up to our heat and humidity and they are not a favorite browsed by deer. Our local deer seem to like exotics rather than natives. I am not sure what deer are thinking, but why eat local fried chicken when you can have a tasty Asian treat? Bring on the deer version of Pad Thai!
Resolution 3 – Gertrude Jekyll wrote that if a plant does not please you or makes you feel guilty because it has not thrived, get rid of it. We all make mistakes. Sometimes our garden centers carry plants that will not grow well in our zone. It is tempting to try them. If I have tried a plant and it has died, I will not feel remorse. It can become compost.
Resolution 4 – I will try to be more sustainable in water use. I do not use pesticides and I only fertilize my roses and geraniums, but I do use more water than I should. Given that my house has a south-southwest exposure my garden cooks in the summer sun and I need to be more judicious in plant selection to avoid those that are water hogs. I also know that I could mulch more to keep my soil cooler and make it more amenable to holding moisture. It does not matter if you use pine straw or shredded hardwood. Both are helpful in retaining moisture. Three inches of mulch is ideal.
Resolution 5 – I will try to get out more to just enjoy my garden and sit on my bench and reflect. Another quote from Gertrude Jekyll: “The purpose of a garden is to give its owner the best and highest earthly pleasure.”
May your gardens give you hope and pleasure this year.
