Monday, June 02, 2014

(mostly) about perennials

Flowers are like crying infants -- it's a bit of a guessing game when things aren't quite right. Most of us don't have the needed skills to identify and fix plant problems. In this way, flowers are not like infants: we don't fully learn on the job. They don't command all our attention. Well, for most people they only worth a fleeting thought. And for those of us who are dedicated perennialists, it doesn't help to fret. There are too many variables affecting robust growth. You learn the basics and then you cross your fingers.

I fell in love with perennials when I first saw the beds in Great Britain some three dozen years ago. Not Poles, nor the French are the kings or queens of flower gardens. In fact, when I traveled to Poland in March, I took with great pride photos of my daughters, then, too, some of Ed and quite a number of my farmette flowers. My Polish friends looked at the gardens politely and I could tell that they could not fathom why I would bother -- both growing and photographing them. But the English! Ah, the English - they would understand!

Which brings me right to this day -- the first Monday of June. A stormy day, or at least a stormy morning. Rain, real rain came down soon after I let the cheepers out. (No, they do not like getting wet. I'm sure they blame me for it.)


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It rained so hard that we stayed indoors for breakfast.


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And just as I was to settle in and resume indoor work, the clouds passed and just to tease us some, the sun came out. And so I planted. And weeded (always that). Here's yesterday's siberian iris:


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Compare it to a bearded iris that I have growing in another flower bed. Both in bloom right now!


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We tinker as well with creating paths for the wedding that will take place here just two and a half weeks from now! Here's the beginning of a path that benefits from one of my flower tubs and from a bronze statue cast by Ed's mom a long while back. Oreo watches, a bit puzzled. I get the feeling that humans often cause him to feel bewildered and confused.


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In working my way around the beds, I noticed how much the rains had caused the grasses to shoot up. (And weeds: our grassy areas are full of them!) It is time to mow. And here I depart from your quintessential fanatic gardener/outdoor person: there are some aspects of yard work that I dislike immensely. Mowing. I really do not like mowing. The trouble is, Ed doesn't like it either. And even without touching the "prairie" out back, we have so much to mow!

Typically, Ed does the bulk of grass cutting. Not today. I want a tidy job and Ed isn't tidy with the mower.

And hours later, when I am done, I know that if I never work a mower again, I'll not be disappointed.

Ed rewards my efforts by buying me a flower. In a pot, of course. To put in one of the beds. It's become an oddly common triangle for us: swing by the garden store, then the Harbor Freight Tool shop for some needed cheap tool, then home. This time, we pick up (at Harbor Tool) a few solar paneled lamps for our path posts, marveling at how it is possible to sell these night lights at $2.50 each.


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In the evening, we eat Thai take-out on the porch. I cannot properly describe the beauty of an outdoor dinner on a gentle evening of late spring. A photo, I can do that. Leave you with a photo of Ed, digging in. Food this time.


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Now imagine a quiet time, with only the chirp of a cardinal who will not shut up. And a fading light. And the faint smell of something sweet. Last wisps lilac or lily-of-the-valley? Something else? Heavenly. Really heavenly.

5 comments:

  1. I like the "butter and sugar" iris. What camera are you using?
    It is a tremendous undertaking to "create paths" and get the garden ready for a wedding! A labor of love.

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    1. Hi JoyD! -- In normal circumstances, I would use my pocket camera for daily garden snapshots, but I just wasn't careful enough and grime settled in and though it's insured, the insurance company is refusing to pick up the tab. Long story to vent a frustration against the insurance company! I'm waiting for my new pocket camera to appear on the market (June 19!) and in the meantime, I'm carefully using my favorite camera -- the one that I save for travels and special days -- my Sony NEX6. Love that little lady for its reasonably compact size and excellent technology even though it technically is NOT an SLR. After decades of devotion, I ditched my SLR and am not likely to ever go back.

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  2. Ah, it's all falling into place in my little brain now! The wedding will be there? In and around the secret gardens? Now I see the method to your gardening madness my dear one... all is clear now. How fun! We got married 28 years ago in May in a blooming garden at the home of my husband's parents - a home we had agreed to buy from them and live in forever... well, we actually got married inside - in the formal living room, but the rest was spent outside and the magnolia tree, the pride of my in-laws, was in full bloom as were all other trees and shrubs. An amazing day - and I am starting in saying prayers that the wedding day dawns clear and beautiful for you all.

    But I have a burning question -- what part will the chickens play in the wedding ceremony? Flower-chickens? Marching down the aisle just ahead of the bride?

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    1. Bex -- I'll take any influence you may have on making June 21st a fine day here in Wisconsin! Preferably mosquito free, too! Thank you!

      As for the chickens, well, I was afraid that 1. people may trample them down, 2. they'd poop in opportune places, 3. Oreo would attack the two little kids who will be attending. They're not quiet little kids and Oreo gets into his defense mode when a kid's running around the yard. We learned that last week when little boys were here. First they chased the chickens then Oreo chased them -- it was rather stressful. So I thought I'd pen them, but the hens can fly out. We have to figure out how to net them from the top down, or lock them in the coop. I hope it's not the latter. They would be very upset if they were locked up that long!

      But yes indeed, ever since my girl set the date over a year ago, I've been gardening with June 21st in mind!

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  3. I don't know the dimensions of the coop - but an idea just hit me... you know those awnings that you put over your deck? The kind you can roll out and back with a crank? If you had one (or 2) that rolled from the shed wall out over the coop - it could serve as a way to keep them in without flying away and also out of the rain on regular days. I wonder if they sell them on craigslist?

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