I’m going to attempt something new. It will more than likely fail. But who cares? It seems like a good idea at this exact moment so I’m going to run with it.
The premise: post one photo of my garden each day with a corresponding blurb. Maybe it will be as simple as “I like it” or “How bad does this look?” or maybe I’ll share the background on when I first planted it or what inspired me to try it in the first place. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll shake your head in awe at my my magical abilities or you’ll shake your head in disgust, questioning my sanity. Maybe even a combination of all four. Fun, right?
And here’s the kicker: I’m going to attempt to do it for 365 days straight. One year. Straight. Never missing a day. This is where you guffaw and say, “Sure, John. I’m sure that will happen.” Doubt me, I dare you.
So here’s day 1, September 4th, 2023. Enjoy.
What you are looking at below, the tall purple-blooming perennials, are Vernonia noveboracensis or New York Ironweed.
My inspiration to purchase it: After a tour of the High Line in New York City, I vowed to find taller perennials I could add throughout my garden. This plant looked awesome growing out of the abandoned railroad tracks. Wild and weedy, in a good way. And also super tall. Striking and a focal point.
My biggest design complaint/obsession in my own garden was a lack of much needed height to break up similar heights on so many of my other perennials and shrubs. And I wanted something natural that fit my aesthetic and would thrive in my conditions. Translation: something native. Translation: NY Ironweed.
I planted three of these, four years ago and it wasn’t until year three that they popped, reaching a height of close to seven feet. My biggest concern is mistakenly pulling the newly emerging plants in spring when I’m ferociously weeding. But I studied what they look like in that state to prevent such a tragedy and made sure to not pull them where they reseeded in other areas of the garden. Will they become unruly with all of the reseeding? Bring it on, I can handle it.
Here’s to day one of the Daily Garden Photo initiative, even if it only lasts one day.