As I’ve mentioned in the past, I use this ground cover EVERYWHERE. It survives wet conditions, drought, trampling from the dog and gives you sweet spring blooms and awesome foliage color the rest of the year. Not to mention, it couldn’t be easier to divide. It is the gift that keeps on giving.
As I surveyed the rest of my garden yesterday, I found myself excited from all of the new growth, blooms, etc, but quickly moved on to “glass half empty” mode. I can’t help it, it’s who I am. It drives me insane but also drives me to keep on tinkering and improving.
Here are some examples of my thoughts as I strolled through Le jardin du John:
“Uh oh, the dreaded hole in the middle. Time to divide this 4 year old clump of Siberian iris. Do I do it now? Wait until after bloom? Where do I go with the divisions? My head hurts.”
“These daffodil blooms are nice and all, but only 3? I must have planted at least 8-10 bulbs two years ago. Why do I bother? Will I remember that these are there when I add more plants over the next few months? Actually, wait, can I handle letting this foliage die back naturally first? I need a friggin plan.”
“Candytuft blooms coming. Nice, but they would look better in bulk. Do I have room for more? Wait, they need good drainage and this is one of the few spots where I have decent drainage. So I can’t fit more. What was I planning on doing again?”
“Every f’n year I take a close up of these Viburnum ‘Aurora’ blooms. Do you think readers know you only get 2-3 blooms on this shrub a year because the deer eat the buds in the fall/winter? Think they wonder why I never photograph the enrtire shrub?”
There you have it.
Me in a nutshell.
This gardening thing is fun but so damn maddening at the same time.
Wow…it’s like a peek into my own head 😉 Seriously, I have those same nagging worries…the Iris that needs to be split up (yes, wait for them to bloom), the plants that I need more of, and the ones that would look awesome if not for slugs/cutworms…and the neighbor’s chickens.
Love it! Glad to know I’m not alone in the “garden glass half empty” line. I don’t your problem with deer but I have it with squirrels. They eat everything. I’ve had to replant my peas 3x because they keep eating them.
Hi John,
I have divided siberian iris before, after, and DURING blooming and they just don’t care. They are pretty much indestructible, even by the deer — so go ahead do it anytime you have a little time (did I say that?) and you will be successful! And yes, deer love viburnum but they don’t care whether their blooms are eaten or not — they will survive even when we miss their flowers. Deer are the vermin of NE gardens, aren’t they? Oh well….
Hi John, I’m joining in too, about needing to divide my Siberian iris this year..again!! And would you believe I have squirrels that find
viburnum flower buds quite tasty! Anyone else?
Great post John! I have a quick question… What plants would you put in the ground around a shed? I have a shed at the end of my small garden (it really is small lol) and its looks a little shabby atm so in the new year (once all this cold has gone) I would like to brighten it up and little and thing that Ajuga (Bugleweed) ‘Chocolate Chip’ in your photos, but I just want to check its not going to try and grow under the shed or anything and cause me problems at a later date?!