Maintenance
The regular work that keeps a garden going—watering, pruning, cleaning, watching what struggles and what thrives, and figuring out what needs attention next.
-
When Solutions Become Problems: Course Correction in Gardens and Policies
Photo by David Trinks on Unsplash The beautiful blooms on my bigleaf hydrangeas this year were the direct result of my not doing something stupid. More precisely, they were the result of my not repeating the mistake I made several seasons ago. This year, I listened to the experiences of others, read the established guidelines, and took a more strategic approach to pruning. Instead of hacking away at every branch, I carefully removed only the dead wood that had no blooms. The result of that course change was a set of shrubs covered with large blue flowers. Spoiler alert: my…
-
Growing in the Place with the Right Light and Space
A truly happy plant is one that thrives over time. It settles into its location, grows into the space around it, and returns year after year looking as though it belongs exactly where it is. Much of that happiness comes down to two basic things: the right amount of sunlight and the right amount of space. Not all of the plants in my yard have achieved happy-plant status. A few have made it very clear that I chose the wrong place for them. Some are hanging on for dear life. Some survive but never really flourish. The row of Rose…
