Experienced gardeners know that Nature works on her own schedule. Impatient gardeners (like me), think we can manipulate our gardens to run on our timelines, and often we find out the hard way, that we don’t possess magical powers. Waiting for the weather to warm up, the wind to die down, the frosty overnight temperatures to subside, the greenhouses to bring in our favourite plants…patience is a virtue some of us need to acquire!
Along with cleaning up leaves and debris and pruning out dead wood or overgrown shrubs, this is the time to level pots that have shifted and amend with fresh soil and compost. It’s also a good time to reimagine garden spaces with new plantings and accessories.
The square containers that have have been tucked in the diamond pattern of the boxwood hedges for the past couple of years are the right scale and colour, but I’ve always felt the style is too contemporary for my garden design. I’ve replaced the square planters with two containers I had flanking the greenhouse side doors. After spray painting them black, I’m happy with the transformation, and the new look is more suitable…I think.
Although there are hints and a promise of new growth on many trees, perennial shrubs and flowers, there are still many more bare branches. There is, however, one bright spot in the peony garden. I was so excited to see this peony (photo was taken May 12) that is weeks ahead of all its cousins in the same flower bed.
Chaos reigns during the best of times and now especially so in this time of a “new normal”. Finding peace and calm isn’t always easy.
My happy place is in the garden. Where is yours?
xox Judy