Dear Gardening Friends,
After fits and starts, signs of Spring are all around us. At least fifty shades of green have filled in the blanks between gray and brown branches left exposed by the Winter. Mother Nature has been busy with splashes of pinks, yellows and purples from her palette that are worthy of a Joan Mitchell canvas.
For the moment, it is in the North border of our garden that the results of our efforts are manifesting themselves, supplying visual interest through greenery, texture and color. It is a modern border in that it is as diverse and inclusive as soil and climatic conditions will allow. (Resistance begins in the garden!)It is some sixty feet long and varies between 3½ and 5 feet wide. The undulating forward edge of the border abuts the lawn where one anticipates rousing games of croquet in the warm summer days to come. It begins and ends - book-ended - with heirloom Peony, Festiva-Maxima.
These were a gift from my Aunt Freda, whose in-laws, Charles and Inez Williams first planted them over sixty years ago. In between, is a mix of dozens of annuals and perennials, that will, hopefully, provide a continually unfolding spectacle of horticultural interest, with a little something for every gardeners taste. Aspiring astronauts may be drawn to the Ligularia, “The Rocket” or the Gomphrena, “Cosmic Flare," scooped up at this years annual Morven plant sale in Princeton, NJ. Some plants were installed quite intentionally, bearing in mind the artist Frederick Sommer’s diktat that “Placement is primary.” Others arrived compliments of Nature’s whim, escapees from next door. These will appear and erupt like fireworks from now until the Autum frost extinguishes them. Some of these plants were installed with how they will appear seen from the dining room window in mind. This is a different, layered experience from how one encounters the plants sequentially, strolling the length of the border from end to end; In that case, it is never the same twice.
Just now, the Alliums rub shoulders with the Lillys, which bump elbows with the Irises (“Totality”), knocking knees with the Acquilegia, playing footsie with the Echinacea. The Baptisia, (Stop-you-in-your-tracks-gorgeous,) plays Peek-a-Boo with the Poppies. The Japanese Anemones, (“Andria Atkins”) are “cheek-by-jowl” with the Kniphofia that we grew from seed. The emerging Larkspur, Cleome and Daisies threaten, “Just you wait, we’ll have our day!” All of this, while I continue to sprinkle seeds, like a chef seasoning a favorite dish; some Batchelor’s Buttons here, Cosmos there, and Zinnias, like salt, to taste.
What are you cooking up in your garden?
Copyright Everett H. Scott, all rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without express written permission of the author.
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