A Grower Perspective

Three weeks ago I fractured a couple of metatarsals in my foot. I like to move around on my own and this brought me to a screeching halt. We pruned most of our large apple trees on our farm before the breakage, but had yet to pick up the branches and haul them into the brush pile in the woods. That is usually my job. My husband piled them up in three piles on the lawn and I discovered they made a great spot for the birds to hang out in, between the lilac and the bird feeder by the window. I found this highly entertaining in my non active state. As I can not garden for a few weeks more, I’ve had to go on the premise that messy may not be so bad. Leaves fall from the trees and provide natural mulch for the tree. If you don’t like this look get some mulch, blended mint compost is my favorite, and sprinkle an inch or so over the leaves. This will give a neat appearance without loosing the layer of leafy organic material. Many plants like spiraea, forsythia, and philadelphus, get pruned into a blob by some gardeners, yet when left to their own devices will grow into a lovely fountain shaped plant. These same plants if overgrown can be cut to the ground and they will start up again. I often cut the ‘goldmound’ spiraea to the ground in July and it pops back up with its brilliant color and looks great all winter. You can also miss a year in your pruning and do no permanent damage. I did not get around to my favorite apple tree so I’ll let it go until August or next year. It’s okay because I love the color, deep maroon, of the upright shoots and they will be twice the size next year and good for projects. Patience is what one learns when one can’t do what is normally easy.

At the nursery, I want more than ever to go out and work in our display gardens, add a few plants here, prune some there, take cuttings for propagation. And when I’m working full speed I often just want to sit in the sun and rest. Another lesson: to be grateful for where you are. For at least another month or so things will be messy in my garden and all the insects and birds and plants, for that matter, will love it.