April 2010
Once upon a time Elvis sang:
“Open your eyes the sky is full of butterflies
The blossoms on the trees stir up the honey bees
Spring makes my fever right
Category: Garden Articles
The Best Season
Expectations
Friends planning a visit to a new garden struggled to pick the best time to go, wanting the garden to be at its’ peak perfection. Predicting the weather, wondering if it would rain, if the climate would be just right for the flowers to bloom they struggled to match their schedules to the hoped for perfect visit. Poet William Brown wrote “There is no season such delight can bring as summer, autumn, winter, spring.” When is the best season to visit a public garden? When will the garden reach its’ perfection? Whenever you get yourself to a garden, I believe you can find something good.
Never skip the Children’s Garden!
The Children Inside Us
Recently I encouraged friends to visit the San Diego Botanical Gardens during their visit in the area. Upon their return I eagerly quizzed them on what they saw. They had obviously enjoyed their visit, even the more reluctant visitor of the two. I then asked, “Did you visit the Children’s Garden?” “No,” was their reply, “we didn’t take the time,” I understood. I have visited many public gardens and assumed I was too “big” to enjoy the children’s garden. I would hurry by on my way to enjoy the other garden displays for adults. When I have wandered into the Children’s garden near the end of a long day of garden strolling I discovered one very definite tip for visiting gardens, “Don’t skip the children’s garden!”The San Diego BG, near Encinitas, CA opened a new children’s garden in the summer of 2009. Visiting this beautiful botanical garden and missing a visit to the children’s garden is a loss to anyone of any age. As busy adults we easily miss the whimsy and wonder of nature. A children’s garden touches the child that still resides in all of us. Happiness sprouts as we wander through such special places filled with topiary animals, rooftop gardens and pint size potting benches.
Resolutions of the Garden
New Year 2010
As the new year begins with resolve and good intentions we often focus on healthful pursuits such as exercise, reducing stress, and keeping a positive attitude. I believe enjoying gardens is a great way to keep one’s resolve for better living all year long.
Dwarf Conifers, Chicago Botanical Gardens
Writings
Conifers will be appearing all around the town in December, though most people will call them Christmas Trees. If you go for putting a live tree on display in your home then you will likely choose between a fir, pine, cedar, spruce or cypress as these are 5 of the most popular varieties for a holiday tree. This year for the first time Arizona is providing a blue spruce for the White House National Christmas Tree. Generally for a tree to hold ornaments we want it to stand straight, be cone shaped and dark green. We are happy to tie on our own “pine cones” as part of our decorations.
Container Gardens
Writings
As the weather began to change in my garden I eagerly set about planting my favorite colorful annuals in my containers. I do pots, boxes, hanging baskets, tubs, it is my favorite garden activity trying for the perfect container of flowers. A container seems so much in my control, the dirt, the size, the placement all arranged and hopefully will provide perfect results. Yet each fall I think, “Oh if I just had one more container, perhaps a bit bigger, it would be just right.” Traveling to public gardens made me realize my idea of a container is much, much too small.
Peace Gardens
Writings
As I began my garden travels in August I fled the high temperatures of the Valley and I fled from the highly charged political debate engulfing our country. I longed for peace in a garden as only nature could bring. As our country and the world grapple with so many conflicts I try to remember conflict is part of life. Peace Gardens remind me citizens throughout the world see gardens as a path to peace.
Fantasy Gardens
Writings
July 2009 was the all time hottest month on record in Phoenix! Nearly everything in my garden was wilting. Any gardener venturing out was wilting as well. So I needed a little fantasy gardening. I allow myself to fantasize about a perfect garden, where the plants stay in optimum health, where blooms unfold in predictable order of color, and quality is assured by a perfect feeding schedule and ideal watering. A garden always orderly, where any storm damage is minimized and cleared promptly (generally assisted by a legion of gardeners). Yes, a fantasy I realize and yet since children may escape the day to day world by visiting a magic kingdom, why can’t a gardener escape to a magic garden?George Washington Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina is the ultimate fantasy garden complete with an enormous castle! Fredrick Law Olmsted, considered the father of American Landscape, designed the gardens and worked throughout the original 400,000 acres in 1895. The magnificent home today open to the public now occupies 8000 acres and the remaining grounds are a gardener’s delight.
Garden Residents
Writings
I visit gardens everywhere I go, yet I remain only a visitor. Yet as a visitor I find meeting the residents of public gardens is (nearly) always delightful!
Night in a garden
Writings
As a kid I was afraid of the dark. Many a summer night when I forgot to put away my bicycle or toy wagon I was told to “Go outside and put away my things!” A dark night and only a small porch light to show me way, I stood trembling at the back door, holding my breath. I would dash out, do the task and dash back in my heart racing. Now night time outside in the garden is a favorite time for me.