A Grower Perspective

It’s hard to get people to agree on nearly anything, including plants. We all have our favorite plants yet what we love can be a nightmare for others. For me it’s getting to know a person, place, plant or T. V. show, which allows me to make a decision on how I feel about them. I do make snap judgments, sometimes this is necessary, but I have found slowly learning to get to know things helps me make a more informed decision. We recently received a strong reaction back about one of our plant of the weeks. Many things I liked and admired about the plant were not at all appreciated by this reader. Fair enough.

Let me give you an example. The first house I bought had an Aucuba japonica on either side of the front stairs. The plants were in full sun (they are often used as shade plants) and to me looked like someone had dumped paint on them. I hated them, cut them down, tore out the lawn and planted the apple trees we received as wedding gifts. Later in my gardening career I saw this same variety of Acuba planted in a woodland garden in the shade and appreciated its lovely qualities (right plant, right place). So the point is each plant has its ideal place in the world and when we visit them on their own terms they tend to show their best sides and we appreciate them, marvel at them and like them. Also we have to realize what we like someone else won’t.