As I write this GG is up in a tree in the backyard. I'm not looking. But the door is open so I can hear her scream if she needs help.
We lost many plants over this past year. Miss Kim, our sweet little lilac: RIP. Drought 2011.
A Carolina jasmine growing on the chain link fence since 2002: executed by a weed wacker yielded by next door neighbor. Severed at the root.
A ga-huge Japanese pussywillow rooted and grown by GG and planted in the back yard 2006: Dead. Drought?
A crepe myrtle, here when I came. Faithful bloomer, needing no care. Split at root base. Dead as a doornail.
Commonly thought to be indestructible here in Virgina. Not in this yard. We're breaking records here.
The last of the woodland azaleas, a pinxter azalea . I once had two, now I have none. It was too dry and sunny here, but they struggled to live for 12 years. They will be missed.
There are other holes in the beds where campanula and anemones bloomed. They bloom no more.
But every time we cut down a vine or take down the limbs of a tree, new vistas open up and the garden is rethought.
Well except for the crepe myrtle.....that I'm going to miss. And it won't be quick to come down I fear.
But the rest, to my surprise, I'm delighted. Glass half full..
The garden now has room to grow.
And judging from these few pictures I took this afternoon, a little breathing room would not go amiss.
xo Jane
Damn, girl. It's all so tragic.
ReplyDeleteit is wonderful how nature rules. we have to work around her don't we? my condolences on your losses though. i have so much work here to do i can hardly think straight. which is nothing new really.
ReplyDeleteGood perspective! What is the plant/bush with all of the red flowers? Pretty...
ReplyDeleteI am sure you will make this ever more beautiful.
ReplyDeleteEither you need to go xeriscape or you need to start watering! :-)
ReplyDeleteBut holes can be very inspiring...
Steve, The Sarah Bernhardt of gardens.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I can hardly think straight either! funny that:-)
Denise, it's a red honeysuckle, been with me since 2002. Please don't let the neighbor wack that, I'll cry.
LPC, all is will take is time and money. Oh and rain and sun and money:-)
Marie, jajajaja. Hadn't thought to do that:-) Seriously would have had to spend all last June and July with a hose in my hand.
Mother Nature has her own reasons...I feel sooo bad for you that get to make a trip to the plant store! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's SO glass half full.
I don't have any blooms yet but I talk sweetly to them everyday!
Tell GG to be careful ... falling is not fun!!! I'm still hobbling.
Well even with all that tragedy, your garden looks quite lovely. I do love spring...especially in Virginia. I may have only lived there 2 years, but our son was born in VA so it will always be close to our hearts. Is that a Japanese Maple?
ReplyDeletexo
annie
That's life...ever changing!!!!!
ReplyDeletePretty garden still though. xx
How's the back? standing up straight again? You girls really know how to garden. My Latifundia awaits in the back with two old amateurs getting ready to dig up a big veg and flower bed.
ReplyDeleteWow, a chance for your garden to evolve and new shopping opportunities too, so glass half full.
ReplyDeletePaul
I like how philosophical you are. A door closes and a window opens and all that. I do like any excuse to go to the nursery though, and will stop fretting over a few deaths of my own.
ReplyDeleteThe heartbreak of the loss, but the joy of a spot to plant something new! Are gardeners fickle or resolute?
ReplyDeleteDear Jane,
ReplyDeleteSo Happy to hear your are not devastated. I hope you will find some beautiful new plants to fill up the gaps. In my garden the same happened. This years frost was simply too much.
I enjoyed having a look in your garden. It's all so lush and green. Can't wait for mine to look like this!
Happy Easter Jane!
Lieve groet, Madelief x
Oh no, I hate losing plants. Your drought sounds quite damaging. I'm surprised at the crepe myrtles, I have two and think of them as indestructible, oops. (any tips on pruning those would come in handy, they're as tall as the house) The garden looks lovely though and I'm sure you'll find something new and exciting to add. Go spot GG!
ReplyDeleteI hate for you to lose any old friends from your garden, but the remains certainly do look GOOD. Hope you find lovely new friends to join your merry band.
ReplyDeleteOff to NYC tomorrow and lunch with a friend of yours and mine. Will tell you all about it Friday or Saturday. Got you wondering?? xoxo
It's always so sad to lose a plant, especially an old friend. But you have a good attitude and I'm sure whatever direction you decide to go in next will be a very good one!
ReplyDeleteUggh, it's tough losing plants you grow fond of, we had drought last year, and now this Spring has been unbelievably dry again and we have a hosepipe ban already.
ReplyDeleteBut, it is funny how opening up spaces changes the shape and views in a garden and can help the garden evolve...your border there looks lovely. Mine always get overcrowded and then you lose the outline of all the plants which can be such pretty shapes.
Room to breathe - keep getting so many reminders of my own need for this at the moment - universe trying to tell me something?
Love from Blighty. xx
It is a mixed blessing, isn't it, when a space opens up in your garden, even when it comes at the expense of something lovely. At least you're finding out which plants are drought tolerant, which may, unfortunately, come in handy. Now if you can find a way to disable your neighbor's weed whacker. Noisy things, anyway.
ReplyDeleteYep...I can mourn along with you Jane...we've lost a lot back home in Melbourne, following years of drought...and factor in two young adult children left in the house...with no interest in the garden...well there are dead bodies everywhere...including a number of azaleas that we moved from various houses, a magnolia stellata that my dad grew from a twig and some youngish rhodies...the only bloody thing that's thriving is the rampant roses....never planting them again, especially if you move to the other side of the world and totally neglect them!! To make matters worse we now have hosepipe restrictions here in England...can't believe it! Robx
ReplyDeleteRIP crepe myrtle
ReplyDelete