Wednesday, June 18, 2014

A Work In Progress


I realize this could apply to almost any aspect of my life, but right now we're talking about the garden, the back berm to be precise.

If you've been reading me for any time at all you might recall I used to have eight 30' Leylands planted there.

They grew and grew and protected my delicate vision from the rather large hotel that looms over my tiny house. In front of the trees were some shrubs and bulbs, patches of liriope and a few struggling perennials. The berm didn't hold water too well.

Yes, there is an alley, and a row of townhouses and a street that physically separate me and the hotel, but the Leylands provided the all so important illusion of privacy.

Then came Hurricane Sandy and the first one fell.

The rest all listed to the right and were just waiting for one stiff  breeze to topple over. So down they went.

I had to wait till the following spring to get a 7ft fence built. Then I agonized over what to plant, where the $$$ would come from, how I would ever to be able to dig a hole in the unforgiving soil.

This spring my vision cleared and I got a helper. A man named Donald who lives in my 'hood and used to garden for a few clients. He told me he knew I wasn't rich and he wasn't looking to get rich off me, but he'd love to help.

So every other Sunday I have Donald come by and for not enough money, he's made last summer's dreams come true.

He moved the poor shrubs from the bottom of the berm where they grew all pitched forward as if begging for alms, up to the top in front of the fence. They are standing tall and proud. The choke cherry has suffered the greatest shock but I think she's gonna make it.





He moved plants under my deck that suddenly suffered from lack of shade. Dug up 2/3's of a patch of black eyed susans, moved 3 clumps to the back berm and I donated the rest to unsuspecting neighbors.

I dreamed of a cotinus and wondered about planting a curly willow that was  growing in a pot by my front door. They are both in place.

Now I'm mulched, the icing on the cake.

Dream it and it can happen.

Don't let me forget this. It may not happen as quickly as I want it to, but give time, time and miracles can happen.

Hell I waited 7 years for the climbing hydrangeas to get up to speed.


If you had asked me in February ,when I was hanging around with a cast on my arm, unable to even put toothpaste on my toothbrush what I thought the garden would look like this summer I would have cried, and did.

Oh me of little faith.

xo J

and many thanks to all of you who participated in or viewed FITH. It was a great party. July?

30 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Sorry about the mulch:-) need it on the poor excuse for dirt here.

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  2. love love love. jane i'm a big believer in dreams. we often don't consider the awesome power of our brain when sleeping but i swear to you....dreams work. so i say dream big! x

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  3. I'm in for July :)

    Glad you've had help when needed.
    I am missing my Oregon peonies BUT I just bought a small lemon tree ( a Eureka) and some grapevines ( both green and red). Tough gardening in a rental; thank the universe for really large pots!

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    1. Lemon trees rule. You're doing grapes in pots? Excellent.

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  4. Yes, some things take rather more time than we think is fair.And more oomph than elderly joints think is possible!But we do get there.
    And a mixed shrubbery will be easier to manage than 30' cypress! I've slotted my Royal Palms into that category and am saving-up for the Tree Men...

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    1. The tree man is a ginornomous expense....but worth it. Year by year, plant by plant, weed by weed, we get there.

      It's a journey not an event, right?

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  5. It looks wonderful, so green and cool and rich and varied. And those day lilies have my heart.

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    1. Well you know your greens...with a splash of yellow! It's getting there. Does a heart good.

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  6. Nothing like a work in progress, is there! Imagine not having one? Life would be empty......

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    1. Says the queen of projects. But you're right, it would be like running out of books to read.

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  7. Projects are good..keeps the mind and body active! Everything looks splendid. 7 years on the climbing hydrangea...there's hope for mine yet!

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    1. That's right, just plant it and many years from now it will grow. Makes a clematis look speedy.

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  8. Your garden looks lovely...the hydrangea is a vigorous specimen and looks great.
    Dreams are what make life worthwhile....gardens would be pretty boring if we didn't dream up changes!

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    Replies
    1. Soooo exciting to see a years worth of dreams realized. What next I wonder...

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  9. It looks great! You know that I am a great believer in projects - they give you something to hope for to plan for, to do, and to enjoy - until you are ready to start re-doing. Clearly, you do right by your neighbors (even the ones who don't know about Black-eyed Susans!) and they do right by you. It looks great and in a couple of years will look like it's always been there ... and so much nicer than Leylands! Job well done!!

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    1. I'm so looking for the corner where the wood meets my neighbor's chain link fence is invisible.

      but I'll try and breathe through the next few years!

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  10. You have the best neighbors of anyone I know! That is awesome, and things look great. Keep the faith! xo

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    Replies
    1. I'm so lucky to live in this crazy but close little neighborhood.

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  11. in due time, all good things do come. I guess Donald wasn't ready to work on it until this spring....you sure do have the best neighbors.

    Dream big, girl!

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  12. Patience. I love when expectations are exceeded. It looks great!

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  13. Replies
    1. Well it is their garden. And the garden next door, and several across the street.
      Gus and Lucy in the 'hood where everybody knows their name.

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  14. As the tee-shirt says, Mizz Jsne, "Life Is Good." And indeed it is, this time of year. Peace be with you,
    Diane in
    Peony Heaven
    Denver

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