The 2004 Garden Season Ends

09/25/2004
When the world is too loud and raucous, retire to the gardens of Grandmother's world

The 2004 Garden Season Ends

There will be times, sweet Granddaughter, when you will see a gardener standing on some raised vantage point and gazing out across the plantings. One would hope that the gardener is resting with admiration for the floral, fauna, and foliage throughout. More likely, Kaitlyn Mae, the gardener is dreaming of new plants to come, assessing the sunlight, rating the aesthetics and this time of year, already deep in plan for next year’s garden.

Yes, gardening is a constant learning process, Kaitlyn, and often it takes years to determine a lot’s eco-system, sun habits, soil tendencies and aesthetic requirements. Grandmother, in this year of our Lord, Kaitlyn, has now completed two years on her lot in Delaware though I’d argue the first year shouldn’t count in that I had to begin in June with no plan.

This past growing season, Kaitlyn, I’d argue has been fairly successful. There are four gardens that I manage and a plethora of whiskey barrels to hide the septic chimneys jutting ugly from the landscape. I have included three pictures of the gardens below, Kaitlyn, so scroll down for a quick view of the finale of Serendipity Shore’s 2004 garden premier.

Grandmother concentrated on annuals this first full year she’s had to test the gardens. Annuals are wonderful things, Kaitlyn, and never allow some snooty grand gardening poohbah tell you not. The perfect garden would be an artful plot of perennials arranged by size and color to aesthetic perfection, surrounded in, over, under and around by annuals that pick up the ball during the wax and wane of the perennial cycles.

There are no flowers that will grow so perfectly under that huge evergreen tree, Kaitlyn, like a ring of colorful impatiens. Currently there is nothing under that tree, sweet granddaughter, save a few ugly pokeberries. This is but one executive decision Grandmother has made as a result of a season of watching and learning.

Ah, but that’s next year’s garden, I digress.

Grandmother transported quite a few of the perennials from her gardens at her old home, Critter Cove. The hedge roses bounced nicely from their transplant and bloomed all over the place this past spring. Iris, daylilies, hydrangea-all moved nicely and bloomed.

Cannas! Grandmother has for years been wanted cannas in the gardens and next year….no wait, this is next year.

Anyway the marigolds and petunias carried the gardens along this year in splendid form. These sun lovers had never did well on the shady lot in Critter Cove. Grandmother did quite enjoy what became to be entire bushes of marigolds dotting the several gardens.

I planted four Rose of Sharon along the fence line but they are small things just yet. By all accounts they seem to like it there and Grandmother has great hopes…well this is next year’s display.

The whiskey barrels proved to be real show-stoppers and Grandmother is smug with her decision to move the awkward things to Delaware all the way from Merryland. Although, ahem, Grandmother is going to re-think her herb barrels. Basil, that herb every herb gardener must have, does not suit Grandmother’s digestion. Though, ah, sweet Kaitlyn, theirs is nothing more aromatic than basil wafting through the gardens. Yes, we have catnip but this is a must grow for a household with six cats. Fortunately, catnip grows merrily and in abundance because the cats can go through an entire bush in one night. Grandmother used fresh oregano in everything she cooked, from baked chicken to a freshly slice cucumber salad. Lavender! The lavender grew just as happily and to Grandmother’s surprise, the hummingbirds loved this herb. We also had rosemary, thyme and sage. Grandmother forgets which ones will grow back so, yes, we must look to next year to decide the new composition of the herb barrels.

Grandmother again used annuals to save the day as I had no idea what perennials would grow in the barrels. Red sage and geraniums flame up from the barrels and while Grandmother has always been fond of the color red, well next year we’re going to re-think that color scheme. I did plant a tiny butterfly bush in a barrel and as small as it was, the thing bloomed July through September. Next year we’re going to take out the annual companion planting and let the butterfly bush grow unfettered as I know it will.

It’s a beautiful September here at the shore, as Septembers are everywhere. Begonias, both tuberous and fibrous, emerge big time as the weather cools. Grandmother planted three new chrysanthemums which may, maybe not, come back next year. Chrysanthemums are strange flowers, sometimes a perennial, sometimes an annual. Grandmother had one chrysanthemum come back from the two I planted last year, and it bloomed its fool head off in June! Now I see the plant is blooming again during the Autumn season of its intended bloom. Go figure.

I’ve studied the shade and I’ve studied the sun. I’ve studied the soil and I’ve studied the style. Grandmother will go forward into garden season 2005 with a plan.

I’ve got all winter to think about it.