Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging!
Vol. 12.20
It’s the time of year when garden centers nationwide are ramping up their business and stocking their aisles. Those of us in warmer climes have been hitting the nurseries and garden centers for a few months already. But no matter where you live, with each trip to our favorite local nursery or big box store we who toil in the dirt dutifully load up our carts and wagons and shopping buggies with the necessities of gardening. We’re on the hunt for the perfect premium potting soil, resilient watering hose that won’t kink, reliable spray nozzle that doesn’t drip or dribble, and various shovels and trowels and pruners and clippers and loppers and of course, plants.
And more plants.
And still more plants.
And yet still more plants.
Plus those bright yellow coreopsis over there and the awesome orange gazanias on that table and the impossibly purple sage down that aisle and the luscious lavender lovelies sitting right there and the...
Oh gawd, someone please stop me!!!
From time to time I tell myself that I won’t buy another plant unless I know exactly where it will go in the garden. It’s not a promise or New Year’s resolution so I don’t feel all that bad when I ignore myself and come home with yet another load of plants, flowers, and shrubs that I have absolutely no clue as to where I’m going to plant them. It’s just that they were either so beautiful sitting on display that I just had to have them or they’re unique or rare and difficult to come by so I best get them now before they sell out or it’s a really cool plant I’ve always wanted to try and suddenly I decided it was the day to at least take the first step and make the purchase. Whatever the case, the end result is that I have ooodles and ooodles of plants waiting (and waiting and waiting and waiting...) to find permanent homes in the garden.
These three yuccas were purchased almost a year ago on sale for $5 each which is a substantial markdown from their regular price. I still haven’t figured out the best place for them yet. When I finally do they’ll be very happy even though they’ve done surprisingly well sitting right where they are!
Sometimes I have un-planted plants for so long that they need to be transplanted into larger containers to keep them alive and healthy. These guys needed bigger pots while they await their place in the garden:
Most of my un-planted plants are a mish-mash of this or that in whatever size or shape. Eventually they will all find permanent homes either in my garden or with someone else. Because while I’m an admitted plant shop-a-holic horribly addicted to anything flowering or captivating I’m also notorious for “cleaning house” and periodically giving away plants just to be rid of them. I’d rather someone else enjoy their beauty than have my procrastination be their ultimate demise.
I have so many “extra” plants sitting around that I’ve learned to tuck them in among existing flowers and shrubs to minimize their awkward and often unsightly presence in the landscape. Not all of them find discrete hiding places but just enough do to keep things from looking too out-of-control and trashy. At least that’s what I tell myself although I doubt I’m fooling anyone with a keen eye...
So come on, fess up. How many un-planted plants do you have lounging around waiting for permanent homes and how long have they been sitting there? I know I can’t be the only gardener with this particular affliction!
Thanks to LIc for inspiring the topic!