My gardens now.
my gardens now are a mix of shade and sun. The perennial garden is transitioning from more labor intensive plants to less labor. The shade gardens are hosta and more, many varieties planted in evergreen groundcovers. shrub borders are broadleafs and fence borders are knockout roses and hydranga.
How I share my love of gardening with others?
Free house calls for consultations, perhaps layout design.
Who or what inspired me to garden.
Inspiration came from mother, father and that first marigold I grew in second grade. Fast forward to age twelve and my trip to a magnificent library and my climbing up the wrought iron stairs through the stacks to discover hundreds and hundreds of books on gardening. I spent the whole day on the floor reading the books. Not being old enough to borrow I asked my parents for the book "Ten Thousand Garden Questions, Answered by the Experts". My father got it for me and I was in horticultural heaven. I have never left and that was fifty years ago. That day in that grand library is etched in my memory like it was recent.
How I learned to garden.
I learned as most do, by trial and error, of course aided by books and conversations with my elders who all gardened for hobby. I begged for a job at the local greenhouse when I was fourteen, got it, seventy five cents an hour, learned things the old way mainly with a wheelbarrow and shovel and terra cotta pots and emerging muscles. Invaluable experience,[the place is still going, being run by the daughter who is my age and school mate]
when I finally moved on I was pretty well versed in growing.
when I went to college I tried to study business but was ever drawn to the college of agriculture, finally getting a degree in environmental design. Moving on, had to eat, so I took jobs remotely industry related and studied at Radcliffe, for landscape construction, and the Arnold Arboreatum, for tree and shrubs.
I have never stopped taking classes wherever I find them. I worked for several years in the retail garden center business and also learned valuable knowledge, especially the difference between being book learned about plants and shrubs etc., and the reality of what is actually available in the plant industry.
I am still learning new methods and materials for the growing of plants by working part time at a friends perennial nursery.
Lessons learned
- I would say the biggest lesson I have learned is that to be successful as a gardener, one should find that book that inspires and get out and try. Even a moderate success will give you the desire to continue.
- But the biggest lesson to learn about growing is that, like every endeavor the end result is only part of a process. With plants, the more effort you put into the soil to place the right plant in the right place, will be the big pay off.
- It's all about providing the right soil, and the right light, for the right plant, at the right time.
- Knowledge is the path to garden glory.
