My garden’s super chaotic these days. I’m into it. I especially like the side yard, which I used to say was for butterflies, then more globally “pollinators,” and has now evolved into, as my wonderful landscape designer would say, a “habitat.” Such a generous concept.
Those are aphids on the the white-flowered milkweeds (do NOT Google milkweed aphids I implore you for your own sake), and they sometimes kill whole stalks of their vegetal prey. That said, they in turn become a smorgasbörd for ladybugs, so, balance.
How about prickles? I glammed these up for you with modern phone camera technology. Painted Lady butterflies loved them last summer but haven’t returned this year. At least thistles are generous all around.
Every garden needs a little fluff and respite.
When I was working, hurrying from the moment I woke up until I finally got into bed only to hurry from my sheets into sleep, I relied on my garden for peace. For an absence of worry. Retired, I am enjoying playing host to hubbub, at least this summer, at least this morning.
Have a wonderful weekend.
21 Responses
My garden is NOT well landscaped anymore, but I like the wild and abundant greenery. There is a peace, if not any panache to it. Hey, the squirrels don’t mind.
Yours looks just fine to me, not that you asked.
Let’s hoist a glass of wine to stress-less gardening
xoxo
@MaryAnne, Let’s do just that.
I admit to slightly more constraint in my front yard, in the public eye;).
❤️
I think I will declare my yard a habitat and quit trying. Excellent idea.
@Nancie N Bartley, Totally do it. So liberating. Although in front I do take my neighbor’s sensibilities into account…
Thank you for this. Yesterday I was lamenting to a friend about the state of things in my garden/yard. Your take and good sense makes me feel better about myself. So true about a habitat – it’s certainly that in places at my house. I’m doing the best I can at this point in time – thanks for lifting a weight.
@Jeannine, You are more than welcome. If I can allow any generally good person to feel better about themselves I’ve been useful and that’s my particular highest good. Thank you.
I like a natural landscape. Yours is beautiful. Ken Druse wrote a book titled “The Natural Landscape.” He advocates them. He describes the inner, middle and outer garden. Inner (closest to the house) is patio and somewhat landscaped, using natural plantings that grow well in your zone. Further out is more and more natural. He also suggested planting dogwood trees to enclose the inner garden. This has worked well for me. This approach is more low maintenance. Ideal in my opinion.
@Susan, Thank you! In fact this is my outer garden, in a way, even though it’s just outside a side door. No one can see it from the street, I can’t see it from the living room, it’s only really visible from my workroom. I see my 3 garden spaces as kind of Super Ego (front yard), Ego (back yard) and Id ( what we’re talking about today;)). Interesting that Druse suggests dogwoods to enclose the “inner garden,” I am developing my inner water-reliant ring around my back lawn, with an alder and dogwoods! I plan to plant two more alders, it feels like they yearn for a grove. Then in the outer ring of my back yard, I’ll keep moving toward drought-tolerant natives, ribes, oaks, coffeeberry, madrone etc.
OK, I’m really into Habitats these days. Since we’ve re landscaped our garden after “Treemageden” it has become a refuge for birds butterflies and lots of bees. But to qualify as a habitat we need to have water for all of these critters. The pool doesn’t count. So we’re looking for some kind of water feature so we can officially be a Nature Habitat. I too planted Milkweed to attract more butterflies. I saw a beauty this morning. I could swear it was a Monarch. But maybe it was just my eyes.
@Sandra Sallin -Apart From My Art, I am sure you did see a Monarch, I’m jealous! I bet your water feature will be beautiful. It’s wonderful to remember that nature rushes in to inhabit an emptied space.
Love this post! Not just fun, it’s helpful. After downsizing from an old house with a big garden I’m the Landscape chair of an HOA at our new place. We have 33 townhouses on 70 acres, much of it semi-wild with good views. Place is 35 years old and I’m advocating for far less lawn. Many long time residents want to fire me in horror. Reduce their lawn!? No!! I plan to adopt the Habitat language. Perfect! (I also need to polish up the political skills I thought I could forget in retirement.) Thanks again for the approach.
@Wendy, My pleasure! I don’t know where you live, but I follow Benjamin Vogt of Monarch Gardens, who made a small prairie out of his lawn! There are so many ways to garden well and still respect the planet and its many inhabitants.
Your garden is gorgeous – it IS a habitat!! I feel like I’m on a nature reserve.
@K-Line, Thank you:). It’s really restorative. Asks so little and gives me so much.
Love it all wild and interesting! My husband plants but never weeds I guess there is something for everyone. Are the Monarch’s late this year? We have only one or two munching on the Milkweed.
Luci
@luci, Wild and interesting:). Something I’ve always wanted to be myself, but didn’t really have the native temperament for. I love to make it possible in my garden. And I haven’t seen a single Monarch:(. I’m holding out hope but it may be for nothing.
Each time I get the Puritain’s urge to”clean” a tumbled space in the garden, birds lose their hiding spaces, insects forego their houses, mystery and quiet are clattered and harassed away . Thank you so much for naming all that, dear Lisa. Gardens are HOMES for the creatures and critters that honor us with presence, we’re so lucky to be able to still share spaces with them. You blog names things I didn’t even recognize until your words made them clear to me.
@Bronwyn Black, It is a great pleasure to have you here. We come from a small subculture, one that has been extraordinarily fortunate but exacted a toll for its gifts. I have used the blog to articulate a lot of the unspoken that I knew but didn’t know I knew. I’m very glad that it resonates.
I am going to try to adopt your zen-like approach to the garden. This year I’m accepting that it’s no big deal if I don’t deadhead the daisies. But I am furious at having had to spend an hour the other day ripping out the morning glory vine that entwines itself around everything it can reach, choking out those plants, and at the sedum that is wonderful in moderation but that now seems to think that it should grow to twice its normal height and then splay itself out all over a section of garden, ignoring the fact that other plants might like to have their place in the sun (literally). Man-spreading, that’s what it’s doing! Okay self: deep breath, settle down, turn your eyes to other areas and appreciate these last few weeks of summer.
I thought or hoped I would like to actually garden (and all that goes with it) much more than I actually do. Our new house has limited “garden” space which is going to be all drought resistant, bee attracting, native plants. I think I’ll enjoy this kind of gardening much more. Love your yard..so relaxing.
I adore your garden! I dream of perfect manicured spaces, but acknowledge that it will never happen. Every time I get to organized and persnickety an overwhelming urge to step back and let chaos reign overtakes me. I’m good with that.
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