September is all about inventory or time to update the plant spreadsheet at “Le Jardin du Markowski”.
I pray to God I got that right or my father, a former high school French teacher, will disown me. I took a few years of French in high school myself, but never grasped the language. I could, however, pull off some sick mash-ups of Franglais, like “You’re full of merde” or “Let’s go jouer some baseball”. That and I remember that the French used an alternative to “It’s raining cats and dogs”. They would say, and I’m paraphrasing here, “La vache qui pisse” meaning it is raining like the cow pisses. Score one for higher education.
My inventory process is rather simple.
I walk the garden with printed plant spreadsheet in hand and check off those plants still with us and take counts of all those same plants. Anything not checked is eventually moved to the “Dead” tab in case it needs to be referenced in the future. Any plants that have been added to the garden since the last update are scribbled on to the hard copy of the plant spreadsheet. Later on, plant tags are referenced to ensure the appropriate cultivar name have been included with my new additions.
This is necessary, why? I’ll tell you why:
- It is an excuse to carry a clipboard which is always cool.
- My neighbors look on confused and that is always fun.
- In winter, I like nothing more than to refine my plant spreadsheet as a means of keeping the garden in the conversation.
- In winter, I like nothing more than to further educate myself on a plant’s longevity, ease of division and potential partner plants.
- My therapist says it gives me a feeling of control and that apparently is considered progress.
- Some day, when I’m good and ready, I’ll reveal the plant spreadsheet to the world and it will go viral and I’ll make like tons of money.
- I have documentation for the next owners of our home should they not tear it all down in fear of what goes into the upkeep.
And no, I’m not ready to reveal this cornucopia of plant knowledge so you’ll have to just imagine what it looks like.
Actually I’ll give you one little nugget as a teaser. After completing the inventory earlier today it was determined that I have 13 Panicum ‘Rotstrahbusch’ grasses. All are thriving and all originated from plants I bought from Bluestone Perennials in 2006. Come to think of it, I could put out a plant version of Ancestry.com for my own garden and it would be killer.
A thought for another day.
I love me some ‘Rots’ and so does my camera. Here are some pics I took of the “Rots” in various poses and I hope you enjoy them all.
These are numbers 4-6 in terms of their age.
Wispy comes to mind.
Great backdrop for perennials all the way into the Fall.
Intertwined with Boltonia.
Hanging with other grasses including Sorghastrum and Miscanthus ‘Variegatus’.
There is almost always one within earshot of the camera.
As seen through the eyes of Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’ blooms.
QOTD: Do you really have any interest in my spreadsheet?
Would love to see your sheet. I have one and it’s a bit out there, I think I have too much stuff on it, and my stuff I mean crap. I need to distill it down to just the vital data.
Josh – I do have plans for the big reveal, ha, just have to fine tune it a bit. I was so good with it back in 2010, 2011 but haven’t been as diligent of late. Need to get back on it though.
I wish I’d kept better records of my plant inventory with specific varieties and dates planted and container size when planted for comparison of growth rates. I’d love to see what you’re tracking.
Kelly – I will reveal soon, I think. I was tracking dates planted, dates bloomed and division preferences, pruning preferences but haven’t been as good as of late. Trying to now get back on it.
this will be my first full year of planting – planted some trees last fall, and flowers etc in spring. now i am planting a few more things. so, great time to begin spreadsheet. i already do the journal thing. i’m a yoga teacher & bike rider/ hiker, but this gardening stuff is EXTREME sport.
Kate – Yoga is my next “want to finally” thing. I just started with meditation and love it so far. Where is the best place to turn for the beginning yogi or yoga person?
I’ve always wanted to keep a spreadsheet, but never followed through with it because it takes too much time — time I could be spending working in the garden (every minute counts when you work full-time). I would love to see your spreadsheet. It might inspire me to try once again to create one!
I was good back in the early days but like you mention, time is the issue. I really want to make a concerted effort to get back on it and hopefully my start the other day keeps me motivated.
I started a list in Excel years ago, but lack of computer skills put an end to that when I tried to update changes. So it was back to a card file, which works for me. I think keeping records is an important part of gardening. You just can’t trust your memory as the years fly by.
Anyone ever tell you you’re kinda weird? A good kinda weird, mind you…but weird just the same. 🙂
That may be the greatest compliment I’ve ever received. Thank you!!