My head is in the clouds, my knees are weak and I can feel the beating of my heart in my chest. It must be spring.
This year, it all started when I walked into the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon spring plant sale. The huge exhibition hall was filled with rows and rows of tables filled with blooming plants. Spring plants rekindle my desire to begin again.
I could smell the fragrant Viburnum carlcephalum when I stepped through the doors. There in front of me was a football field sized room replete with primroses and alliums, coneflowers and hellebores, evergreen and deciduous shrubs, trees and groundcovers. There were vines of every sort reaching for the rafters. My first purchase was the flowering shrub Kerria japonica ‘Fubuki Nishiki,’ a brand new plant variety touting white flecked variegated foliage with white and yellow-cream striped flowers.
My garden is fairly well established, but I always have new ideas and wish I had done a few things differently. The truth is, if I had it all to do over again, I would. And I’m sure at the end of the next attempt, I’d know enough to do it differently again, and then again. One of the things we learn as gardeners is that we have the capacity to learn something new each time out.
Understanding the land
Although I appreciate all I have learned so far in the gardening world, I do try to remind myself that there is always something more to learn. I encourage myself to begin again. In other words, I find great value in approaching the garden as a beginner rather than treating each new situation as if I’ve done it all before. We can all benefit by shaking up the system now and then.
I often ask gardeners what they like about their gardens. Those who are happy with the results of the work they have done are the greatest resources. When I ask, “What advice would you offer to someone who is new to gardening,” the most frequent answer to the question is to hire a landscape designer to help interpret and understand your parcel of land.
The suggestion I hear most often, for anyone moving into an established garden, is to identify the existing plants first. Frequently, there are wonderful plants already in the garden. Until you know for sure what you have, don’t make any major changes. On the other hand, what looks good at first might be a problem the last gardener tidied up before selling the property.
We expect a lot from our gardens because with each new spring the reward for last year’s efforts continues to grow. You don’t have to be an expert to reap these rewards. Just enjoy the experience. If it helps, start by gardening a small area only. Take pleasure in the process. When you have the time, money and inclination, expand the area that you garden.
Design from the heart
Whether you find pleasure in a formal English rose garden or a whimsical garden sculpture made of spoked bicycle wheels spinning on a wooden post, decorate with a style that lifts your spirits. It’s your garden and you can do anything you want with it. Believe me when I tell you, a garden of any size, designed from the heart will charm the most competent gardener in the universe.
Of course, the garden that pleases the gardener will include features you’ve longed to have and plants you specifically love. Build the best arbor you can afford, hang a swing from a porch or add a deck for parties.
Keep in mind that everyone has different tastes, varied likes and dislikes in color, form and contrast. You can use the garden to create whatever mood you desire. You can plant a natural garden that draws in birds and butterflies. If you love to cook, you can design a plot with vegetables for each season.
Talk to other gardeners. Better yet, spend some time in their gardens and invite them over to spend time in yours.
Follow the advice and recommendation of the experts but garden in a way that pleases you. Allow your garden to reflect your unique personality. Even in the midst of winter, I keep my hand in the garden but spring fills me with the desire to dig in to my elbows. Just like me, the worst that you can do is to make a mistake. By making mistakes, and then beginning again, we learn all we need to know about gardening.
Robb Rosser is a WSU-certified Master Gardener. Reach him at Write2Robb@aol.com.
