Making THIS Garden MINE



The question was raised in one of my groups "What are you doing in your garden?"

I was tempted to skip over that discussion. I realized I don't really feel like the garden outside my house is MINE. It's still the previous owners'. It has the remnants of their hopes and dreams out there. I was a bit afraid to disturb it. Truth be told, I felt overwhelmed by it. There are some nice things out there, but a lot of overgrown things. In my last house I had a beautiful mature magnolia tree that had been planted in the 20's. There was such a beautiful ground cover underneath (European false ginger), along with various things like snowdrops and hostas, etc. Next to the porch I had some beautiful daylilies, and peonies, and baptisia australis (false indigo). Oh, I miss that garden! it took me twelve years to make it mine.

We've been here two years, but somehow I haven't made the garden mine. I have two part time jobs, true, and time is scarce. But gardens are built plant by plant, not by bucketloaders. It's really just tucking a plant in here and there. Before you know it the garden has a cadence and rhythm that comes from really watching and living in it.

This will be the year this garden becomes mine. I suspect there's healing in planning and planting a garden.

1 comment:

Gerushia's New World said...

I believe that healing is one of the magical things about gardening. It affords you the time to think and pray and smell the earth. A simple day in the garden can benefit you for so many years to come.

The garden outside your home is already starting to become yours because it's in your thoughts. A little weeding here and a little planting there, and before you know it, your fingerprints are all over.

Maybe in many years from now, the next owners of your home will move in and know that the garden is yours. They will, little by little make it their own. And so on and so on......

Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls


"Do not let what you cannot do
keep you from doing what you can do."

John Wooden