You know what I hate? Seeing Christmas decorations out in the stores in September.
You know what else I hate? Planning for “next year” at work when it is still early in the current year.
You know what else I also hate? Clowns … but that topic is for another day.
I really try my best to “live for the moment” but also realize that planning is a necessary evil in life. What makes me nuts is always looking back on a prior event and thinking “wow, that really kicked ass” but not enjoying said event like I should have at the time it was happening.
This applies to my perspective on gardening as well. And I must admit I strayed from my “live for now” mantra big time today. All it took was a quick scan of some photos I took of the garden beds back in the early Spring to set me off. Holy crap’n crap were the beds bare. Winter interest be damned! While I have made some strides taking winter interest into account this spring/summer, I still have a way to go. The proof is in the photos:
It is so easy to get caught up in the flourishing new growth of shrubs and perennials and then the explosion of blooms. What is easily forgotten is that here in zone 6, we have about 5 months out of the year where you would kill to see any signs of green growth or anything of interest out in the yard. While I really should enjoy the lushness we have now and the impending fall blooms, I can’t help but think of the dark days of winter to come.
Some more photos:
And some more:
OK … one more set:
Like everything in life, it comes down to a balance of enjoying what you’ve got at the moment, but not forgetting to plan for what is to come. So I’ll love me some of the blooms forming on the Miscanthus while at the same time make room for some hollies I can pick up on the cheap this fall. Problem solved just like that!
Happy Halloween!
ONG
You have months of bare and months of lush and months of growing into and out of both. You’ll figure out the balance.
I vote for evergreen bushes, hollies with berries and clump grasses that go gold and can be left on the stalk in winter.
Evergreens are good for winter interest and twiggy things. I leave my grasses up over the winter and my Russian Sage too. A gardener has to plan or you’ll miss that planting opportunity!
Hi ONG,
I always like to see the stems of different Cornus in the winter when planted en masse. Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’, alba ‘Spaethii’, and Flaviramea, when planted tight in clumps and pruned hard every spring always win.
Your gardens really filled in! I know what you mean about planning, I look for evergreens too and if they are ground covers BONUS and I have a bad habit of transplanting ‘for the season’ to make it look good NOW – know what I mean?
HEY, ONG! I like the way your beds filled in this season. Big difference! I think I originally suggested flaming bush and holly…and I’m sticking to it! Your yard is perfect for big ornamental grasses, too, that stay throughout the winter. Don’t forget to plant the spring bulbs…make sure you have plenty of early giant snow crocus to keep your spirits lifted in late winter/early spring.
Don’t be TOO hard on yourself!! It takes YEARS of looking, evaluating, re-thinking things to get the gardens that are seen in Better homes and gardens!! My thing right now are blue spruce–not huge ones–more like specimens–and there are a TON that don’t get too tall, or too wide–I have been amazed at the types available that one never really sees. The blue color also makes the rest of my garden colors pop in the summer. The other thing that is working in my zone 6 garden is redtwigged dogwood–the stems remain a BRIGHT red all winter (plus it makes a great nesting habitat for those goldfinches you saw a couple weeks ago!!) Good luck!!
Speaking of clowns…have you seen Zombieland?
Thank you for all the great feedback!
Kathleen – right there with you on the hollies and grasses. I planted 5 hollies last Fall and made sure I got me a stud male for the other 4 females. And grasses … got me a ton … most hold up well all winter
Sherlock – I have improved my evergreen collection the past two years or so but really want to step it up this next year!
Gary – actually have three Redtwig Dogwoods on order and cannot wait to use them, 2 dwarf and one large one – “Cardinal”
Heather – I definitely garden for each season during that season, hard to break out of that no matter how hard I try
Kim – hollies – check, grasses – check, spring bulbs – not so much, they seem to never survive the wet winters – although will overwinter a ton in pots
Melanie – I have added a bunch of different arborvitae for winter interest but they are still too small, will be adding red twig (incredible in snow) and may look for some smaller blue spruce – have a few large ones as a wind break and they are phenomenal
Melissa – haven’t seen Zombieland yet, but have heard nothing but good things about it, especially Woody Harrelson