In gardening, as in many things, there is a lingo, and one must strive to understand and imprint to memory certain terminologies. Tis not my forté, and therefore I struggle. I have a particular tendency to grasp onto my own unique lingo, and thus come off as an astounding moron in relation to topics I am actually quite versed on. For instance, take Determinate and … Continue reading Time in the Garden
I’ve learned over the years, the hard way, that beginning with a new garden one must think the long term. Where are YOU going to be five years from now? Where are you going to be next spring? What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have spare time? This garden I am privileged to live within, is part of a … Continue reading Fundamental Foundations
To establish a garden, one must sit with it, and quietly listen to what it wants to be. Over days, weeks, months ideally, it will open up to you. Through this quiet time spent in its presence, you will know what must be done. Through the fall, winter, spring, and on into summer, one may even gain a deeper understanding of it all, and perhaps learn how … Continue reading On Creating a Garden
It was just one thousand, four hundred and seventy-five days. That’s all there were. Just now, whilst re-arranging my closet, I came across another reminder of those last days of Tim’s life. Some sort of bed liners that the palliative Nurse had given us, and for some insane reason I’d saved the stupid things. Crazy really, but I suppose it’s my Grandma in me not wanting stuff … Continue reading The Gnarl of Beauty in its new home
Oh, I am so fey, so much sometimes that tea-towel in the wind. As the weather warms, the trees all fresh with new green leaves, spring flowers burst out with their pinks & yellows & purples, and as the light rises in the sky, it illuminates so many memories. Good f’n maudlin sometimes. I push myself, every day, I show myself how wonderful it is … Continue reading The Gifts Of The Muse
My sister is the fourth generation of our family to own this old garden. GrandmaD say’s she remembers when she was young in the early 1920’s and she would visit her Aunt Jen, she says the gardens then were magnificent; the old climbing roses all lusty and intertwining up the giant trellis’, the “elephant turd” {as my mother so lovely referred to the mound that … Continue reading From Above In An Old Garden
I’ve found this garden to have improved me. There have been a multitude of lessons learned on my knees at this lovely Lake Garden. It was a mentor I will not forget, nor will I deny myself again the simple pleasures a garden offers. For many gardeners the garden becomes a place of refuge ~ a private, even sacred spot where the cycle of the … Continue reading A Garden | Pictures and Words
Being locked in a room with a snake would qualify as my worst fear. My phobia of the wee serpents stems back to my Dad. He hates snakes. We once watched him chase one around the backyard with a lawnmower. My Dads fear of them stems back to his childhood in Eastern North Carolina where a healthy respect for snakes would be an asset. One … Continue reading Zith and serpents of the garden
In June when my sisters family was down I received a high compliment to my efforts. My nieces loved the front garden. When they weren’t either swimming or fishing (which they were 75% of the time), you would find them quietly poking around out front. Lots to see out front too. The collection of plants out front are shade tolarant, woodland natives and non-native perennials, … Continue reading Garden Design: Wilding & Whimsy
I am inspired by the wild, untamed beauty that surrounds me. Whether its walks down old abandoned roads, or deep in the bush. I am enchanted by old mossy rocks and lovely native Blue Flag Iris‘ at the edge of a swamp. Mother Nature knows her stuff so I take her cue. When we were restoring the cottage garden it was important to us that … Continue reading Garden Design: Eco-Chic
by PaulaB 