The Garden Can Remain Standing...

November 10, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

Now that I have admitted fully to the change of seasons, and realize that the garden has more than fulfilled its summer promise and is becoming rather tired from all of its hard work and sustained effort, I also realize that I suddenly have a lot of chores to do! Admittedly, I have been neglectful with much of my fall gardening work, simply because the garden had been looking so good and continuing on; the warm, sunny days and newly flowering plants just kept telling me that the summer was lingering, that the fall was kind, and that there was no rush to hurry the garden away. But the rustling winds and dipping temperatures are now telling me otherwise, so I had better get busy.

Our garden here at Elm Cottage consists of many different areas - all planted accordingly to specific sun or shade conditions, as well as to how the various areas are generally used. Pathways meander from here to there, but generally circle the house and always return to the starting point. Breaking these areas into specific work categories helps greatly when taking on a large task, such as a fall or spring cleanup. The areas are treated differently too - in regards to how they are prepared, maintained, or tidied - depending upon their location and planting scheme. Many of the areas I leave somewhat - if not completely - untouched; I allow various plants to remain standing until late winter or early spring. But this does not mean that there is not a lot of work to still be done - even in those areas where I do not fully cut back the plants, as there is always a certain amount of cleanup involved.

**Carefully choosing what to cut back in the fall garden**

Since the garden is a ‘cottage garden’, there is generally quite a lot to ‘clean up’ in the fall, simply due to the nature of the garden. The rambling, exuberant abundance that the garden grows into in late summer is something that needs to be tamed - at least a little. Generally, I tend to let the garden just be and to do its own thing, much more than I clip and prune and tidy. Of course I do all of those things, and regularly, but just not so severely. A cottage garden should be allowed a bit more freedom than most gardens. But there does come a time when it can become unruly and overgrown and generally just out of shape - and that is when intervention is needed - so I do my best to groom and trim in order for the beauty to keep shining through and to keep the garden looking its very best.

**The beautiful seed heads of echinacea provide not only winter interest in the garden, but are also a valued food source for birds**

The fall presents this issue rather clearly: the garden is overgrown and looking messy and needs some care. Yes, the plants are big and sprawling, even splitting, and spilling across the pathways. The leaves are falling - everywhere! And suddenly the garden just looks out of sorts. A proper fall clean up is in order, for sure. The front garden - the one most visible to passersby - gets my attention first. And while much of that garden is left to stand (some plants actually require it for their own health and winter survival) - the things that I do cut down are mostly in the front garden - and they are mostly plants that have simply become too overgrown and floppy and no longer look good. The plants that can provide some winter interest - the ones with beautful seed heads - or the plants that birds regularly go to for nourishment - those are the plants that I leave standing all winter long, cutting them back perhaps in late February or March.

The back garden, and other side areas that are not readily visible to anyone other than visitors, are mostly left to stand in their entirety. Many plants flop and wither and nearly become invisible all on their own; yellowed leaves shriveling; brown and blackened foliage dropping and fading, disappearing into the ground. Some plants, like echinacea or sedum, remain upright and beautiful, especially when covered with frost or snow. These plants, among many others, also provide valuable and needed food for the birds and other wildlife. Even as I write this, our garden is being visited by many goldfinch, who absolutely adore the coneflowers! I could not possible cut them back without feeling immensely guilty - and so I do not. The wildlife who visit my garden depend on its food supply, and at no time of the year is it more important than during the winter months, which is primarily the reason that I do not cut my plants back; doing so would eliminate the food source that so many creatures have come to depend on here at Elm Cottage.

So little by little the garden cleanup and fall chores begin. Plants are indeed cut back, but most are left to stand. The transition of the garden from summer to fall has been an odd one this year. The summer - and the summer flowers - have lingered. The temperatures have been somewhat seasonable, but have leaned much more towards warmer, than cold. And we have had little rain. Until just this week, the garden was looking mostly like a ‘September’ garden. Now we have had our first frost, and things do seem to be changing on a daily basis. Many plants in the garden are well passed, or even completely gone. Some little blooms keep trying! We have beautiful autumn coloring on many of our trees - the amelanchier ‘Autumn Brilliance’ in particular - while other varieties are still completely green. Yes, it’s been an odd year, indeed! But it is now a year - gardening wise, at least - that is over - whether we wish it to be, or not. Alas, let the garden cleanup begin!

Until next time…

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Not Yet Ready to Say Goodbye to The Garden

November 04, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

“This is the treacherous month when autumn days
With summer’s voice come bearing summer’s gifts.
Beguiled, the pale down-trodden aster lifts
Her head and blooms again. The soft, warm haze
Makes moist once more the sere and dusty ways,
And, creeping through where dead leaves lie in drifts,
The violet returns. Snow noiseless sifts
Ere night, an icy shroud, which morning’s rays
Wildly shine upon and slowly melt,
Too late to bid the violet live again.
The treachery, at last, too late, is plain;
Bare are the places where the sweet flowers dwelt.
What joy sufficient hath November felt?
What profit from the violet’s day of pain?”

— Helen Hunt Jackson, Autumn Sonnet

At this time of the year there is always much talk about ‘putting the garden to bed’. And while that is certainly beneficial and good to do - as well as important in order to take good care of our plants and gardens - there are some of us who just wish to keep the garden going ‘for a little bit longer’, and who are not so willing to immediately rush it off to slumber. For me, the true summer - and that of the ‘summer’ gardening season - ends once August is complete. I try each and every year to make it last - wishing it to continue on in to September - and while September provides absolutely perfect gardening weather - it is not summer, nor ever seems to be, so my fantasy never feels true. October and November come and go easily enough, skirting the seasons depending upon the temperatures. And as I stated in my previous blog, our days are now warming, our garden zones are changing, and so the autumn is not so harsh, and it does not so quickly take over, allowing us to pretend that the winter months are far enough away to not be concerned. So I let the garden continue, just as I like, ignoring the days on the calendar.

But as I am writing this, it is now November. The past evening was the first one all season where it was too cold to sit on the front porch. The seasons are not only changing - they have officially changed - something now hard to ignore. Yes, The garden is withering. The trees are dropping their leaves in blustery windfall. The light is now harsh and so much less friendly. Of course there are certainly the sunny days that make the changing foliage shine, but even the bright reds, oranges and yellows do not compare to when the garden was at its full height in summer. The fall is a beautiful season, glowing at times for certain, but it is ultimately one of decay and decline - so as much as I wish to herald its beauty, I am always a little bit at a loss; the melancholy I feel at this time of the year always strikes me hard.

As much as I have a true understanding and realization of the changing seasons, and of their equal importance and necessity, I will admit that when it comes time to ‘put the garden to bed’, I become a bit of a protestor. I am much more apt to start a new garden project in the fall than to close things up for good. In fact, just this year I have started one such project in which I am expanding the front pathways and eliminating the lawn in its entirety. That began as a weekend project and just continued on and kept me busy; to keep busy in the garden means that the gardening season is still with us - and for that, I was more than a willing participant.

I do a good amount of seasonal planting too. So my many excursions to the garden center in the fall certainly help to put off the other gardening chores - the ones that I am trying to ignore. A few new perennials - on sale at this time of the year - are also something that I cannot pass up. And yes, that is just another excuse to keep the garden going, but why not? Even as of today, I am still busy planting and transplanting and working on various garden projects - none of which have anything to do with cleaning up the garden or ‘putting it to bed’. Oh, and I have not even gotten started with my spring bulb planting this year - but that is another story completely.

In truth, with the mild temperatures that we have been experiencing, the garden itself has continued on very well - far longer than in years past. It really does seem that each year the garden just lingers that much longer. Two weeks ago - the middle of October - my garden was looking as it usually does in early September. There were many summer flowers still blooming and reblooming. The leaves on the trees had barely begun to show more than the basic hint of color. This past week has now suddenly shown a very dramatic change and it is clear that we are now well into the end of the gardening season. But for so long, as it lingered, I was drawn to the temptation of the never-ending-summer. The garden allowed me to believe that; and willingly, I did.

Many flowers are still blooming in the fall garden

Of course, all things eventually end. The summer garden and my fantasy of its longevity is one of those things. The chilling evening temperatures assure me that summer has long since passed, and is only now a memory. The leaves falling in zig-zagging motion from the trees and blowing quickly down the street, exposing the bare limbs and branches of their hosts, tells me that time is quickly passing by and that there is nothing that I can do about it. So while I may continue with a project or two - and perhaps plant a few bulbs for some sparkle in spring - I do realize that the time has come to ‘put the garden to bed’. Yes, I have been fighting it, or at last trying desperately to put it off - and not because I do not care about my garden - just the opposite, in fact; I care so very much about my garden that to admit to its ending is painful.

No gardener is happy to see the winter set in - short of the much needed rest it will supply, both for gardener and garden. The ‘off’ months of the year are difficult for true gardeners, who are generally consumed with their gardens and depend upon them for so many more things than flowers or produce: the life of a gardener is often structured around his or her garden and that discipline is very much missed when the days grow too cold to tend, harvest or nurture the very thing that we love most. For many of us, our entire daily routine is drastically altered in the winter months when the garden is at rest. So, to have that stop or shorten, or simply change, is difficult. We all know that it is for the best, and that our gardens need their winter slumber in order to rejuvenate, but it is still a time of aprehension, or even of loss for some gardeners.

So, begrudgingly, tomorrow it starts - for me at least - the end of the gardening season. I will still be out and about in the garden for many weeks to come, as I can usually be found there most of the year, short of extreme snowfalls - perhaps in January or February. And I have many fall chores to still take care of, as there are always tasks to be done. Before you know it, the holiday wreaths and lights will be going up too. The house and garden both require ongoing attention and care. Its just that right now, as the garden grows quieter, it needs a little bit less care, a little bit less attention from me - which is not necessarily a bad thing - it’s just something that I have to get reacquainted with again…

Until next time…

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A Warming Climate and What that Means for The Garden

October 28, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

It is late October and I have hydrangea bushes just starting to bloom. Plants that I have deadheaded are reblooming. Those which I have neglected are still desperately trying to bloom. And none of this should be happening. As I walk around the garden, so many plants are pushing out new flowers - either fully reblooming, or just a simple flower or two, but blooming nonetheless. The thing is - this is highly unusual. Normally, by this time of the year, the garden would simply be seeing the stragglers waving for attention, or the odd bloom here and there - perhaps even just the seasonal color of freshly planted autumn mums or pansies. Never did we see reblooming echinacea and phlox and other summer flowering perennials. In years past, such flowers were long gone and simply memories of the previous months.

Now, the days are warmer than they ever used to be. Summer lingers. Fall is not so harsh. And even winter is not like it used to be. That certainly does not mean that any of those seasons cannot roar, but more times than not, they are different. So different, in fact, that the USDA Hardiness Zones were recently changed to acknowledge the temperature increase. Our garden used to be in Zone 6 and now we have jumped up an entire level to Zone 7. And while it may be slightly appealing to realize that I still have summer annuals blooming in the containers in my back garden, it is also disconcerting to realize that only a few years ago - at this time of the year - they would have long ago ‘given up the ghost’ and would have already been put on the compost pile. As it stands today, I am still watering those same plants because they are living and blooming; and I am watering them because the rain has been scarce this past month - following months of more rain than usual - further highlighting unusual and changing weather patterns - which all point towards climate change and global warming in general.

I realized a few years ago, when I was taking a walk in the park in January with no coat on because the temperature was so warm, that things were drastically changing and becoming ‘different’. January in New Jersey used to mean piles of snow and frigid temperatures that rarely said goodbye until spring. Now, while we may experience a blizzard one day, the next weekend could see temperatures in the 60’s or 70’s. The current temperature cycle does fluctuate, but definitely tends towards warming. One only needs to look at the melting of the polar ice caps to realize how severe an issue we, as humankind, are now facing. So what exactly does that mean for our plants? And how best do we garden when all of the rules are changing?

First of all, warming temperatures mean that we can grow things that we once could not (I am even leaving in my dahlia tubers this year just as an experiment to see if they make it through the winter without having to be dug up). And growing new things is certainly a good thing. But that also means that some of the things that we are used to growing will not be able to be grown. Not all plants need hot weather and heat. Some of our favorites tolerate the colder temperatures much better and will not be able to be planted in our gardens as the zones shift.

It seems that we are currently in a ‘give and take’ period, where there are both benefits and losses - garden wise, at least. I love having the ability to plant some new things, but will surely be sorry to see others struggle. And while we may not all notice such extremes immediately, over time, our gardens will certainly reflect this change. Personally, all that I need to do in order to see how things are changing is to walk outside into my own garden - and to see things blooming that should not be - to realize that I have no need for any coat in October - to see that the leaves of the oak tree are still completely green. Yes, all that I need to do is to walk outside into my own garden, and from there, I fully understand.

Even in late October, many of my flowers are either blooming or reblooming as if it were the ‘height of summer’

So, what are we to do? As gardeners in particular, and human beings in general, there are many things that we can do to stop the dramatic change in our climate - far too many for me to write here in this one blog post. I would only suggest that we all be aware, or become aware, and that we try to do something beneficial in order to slow, alter, or stop the environmental change that we are currently witnessing. And that which may be most beneficial of all - and certainly a very good start - is to simply not deny the facts to begin with; education is a priority! Let us educate ourselves, and then pass that knowledge on to our friends and family.

The most recent scientific research clearly points the blame at us - human activity, fossil fuels, and our general, overall consumption. Yes, we are melting the icecaps, creating severe and dangerous weather, and basically wreaking havoc on our planet. Warming temperatures and flooding are becoming our new normal. Fires are raging in California, even as I write this. Historic storms have recently been felt around the world. None of this is normal. And none of this is any good, to say the very least. And it is certainly not good for our gardens, either. A few sunny days are a great thing, but the reality of permanent temperature increases and drastic weather fluctuations globally only means bad news for gardens in general. Or, at least for the gardens as we know them, and how we are used to planting and tending them, as all of the rules are regularly changing.

And while it may be lovely to stroll outside in late October and to have the day feel as if it were early September, I realize that means something. To see my summer flowers still blooming well into fall - as pretty as they may be - that means something. Here in New Jersey we have just experienced extended months of unusually wet weather, followed by an extremely dry September - that too means something. When the neighborhood brook either dries up or overflows its banks - that means something. And for gardeners - when your hardiness zone completely changes - that really means something. Hopefully, our path is not so off course that we cannot change. Of course there are those people that absurdly fight the science, but I have good faith that most of us will come around sooner than later. Perhaps our past mistakes may not be able to be altered, but our future behaviors certainly can be mindfully made.

Until next time…

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What Type of House Is This?

October 21, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

The weather here has been so lovely lately that I have been spending nearly all of my time outdoors and in the garden. The autumn brings new chores and much to clean up in order to keep things looking good. I am also trying to maintain what is still growing and in bloom, as well as to sneak in a few new plants - certainly some seasonal additions like mums and pansies. But while doing so - giving so much attention to the garden - I always feel as if I am neglecting the house - just a little bit. And I know that soon enough we will be spending most of our time indoors - and that the house will then again be receiving its fair due (there is always an acknowledged balance between house and garden) - so my misgivings may not be truly warranted, but I still feel somewhat neglectful when I spend so many hours tending the garden.

But no matter, the house cannot be ignored. It stands sturdy and central amongst the garden. Thankfully, it is always there - even if I am a bit lacking in my attention at the moment. And it may seem silly, but I know that the house understands. It knows that soon enough it will be its turn, and that the garden will not be needing so much care. Both the garden and the house share this plot of land - and I think rather happily. As I have said previously, the garden nestles the house; the garden and the house meld together. Each is happy and content with the other - no matter which one may be getting the accolades at any particular point in time.

Concerning the house, the question I am most asked is “what type of a house is it?” Elm Cottage is a Bungalow built in 1916. It is also referred to as a Craftsman house. It is of the American Arts and Crafts era of the early 20th century, so many people also refer to this style of house as an ‘Arts and Crafts’ house. Of course, while completely agreeing with all previous characterizations, we also refer to our home as being a ‘Cottage’. And while that may not be technically, or even architecturally correct by definition, it is also not necessarily wrong. Visually, our home can certainly ‘read’ as a cottage. Surely the stature - with white stucco walls and red roof says so, but as I have stated many times before, the main reason that we refer to our home as being a cottage is in large part due to our garden. In many ways, our house is defined by the garden, which both surrounds and nestles the house in place, allowing for both home and garden to become perfect partners. Both the house and the garden work in complete harmony, following the basic principles set forth in the original British Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 1800’s.

So while our house may in truth be a bungalow - it is simply ‘Elm Cottage’ to us. The pairing of house and garden is the ideal that we have worked towards for many years now. At one time the house sat simply in the middle of a yard, or what is typical of a suburban lawn. But after 10 years of planning and hard work - the grass nearly all gone and replaced with garden - the house now occupies full attention and sits directly in the middle, or amongst, a cottage style garden. Both the house and the garden have become the ideal compliments to one another - they are indeed happy companions that work very well together; always in synchronicity. Sometimes the ‘rooms’ outside simply blend in with the rooms inside. We live in both the house and the garden - so we spend time in all of the rooms - indoors and out. And in that collaboration of house and garden, inside and out, even when one or the other gets a period of greater attention, everything ultimately works out and all seamlessly flows together.

Until next time…

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The Uncertainty of The October Garden

October 14, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

“Then summer fades and passes and October comes. We’ll smell smoke then, and feel an unexpected sharpness, a thrill of nervousness, swift elation, a sense of sadness and departure.”

— Thomas Wolfe

The melancholy days of autumn for a gardener are the harbinger of what is to come. We all dread the long winter months - the non-gardening weeks that can seem endless - even though we all know that our plants are merely resting and will be revitalized shortly, and will come back to life bigger and brighter than ever - after only a brief slumber. All just a part of the cycle of a garden, and all necessary and important; completely out of our control. But knowing this still does not always help. As gardeners, we feel the sadness of the shortening days of autumn too strongly because we know what is coming next. And even if we too - the ones who tend the soil - realize that we may also need a bit of a rest come this time of the year - just like our plants do - we fight those sleepy feelings and crave the garden work and chores all that much more, knowing that it will be ending all too soon.

My garden was looking especially nice this past summer. I am not bragging - it was just the plants and flowers doing their thing - but boy, did they do it well! It really was a terrific season in the garden - lots of blooms and pretty flowers and everything generally behaving and acting accordingly (the weeds in my gravel pathway were quite a different story, but the flowers were outstanding!). So no complaints for the season that was - but as we enter the fall - now October - I am left to look around and quietly wonder and question?

**Faded stalks of summer blooming liatris stand tall amongst the still blooming ‘Millenium” allium in October**

The garden is always a changing, fleeting, never-lasting-as-long-as-we-wish, entity. As much as we desire to control it, and do so lovingly by tending to it as best we can, nature itself still has the final word. And the changing of seasons is just an exclamation point that shows us how little we really do command. That still does not make me feel good when I find myself staring at a once exuberant garden and seeing browning, crisping, dying plants. Somehow I always think that I did not plan well enough - perhaps if I chose other plants the garden would look better, or would have more things in bloom? And while there is a certain truth to this, as garden planning and correct and varied planting choices are all very important, there is also a time in the garden when even the best plans tend to fade away; it is just that time of the year. But still I look around and feel a particular disillusionment that I know is unjustified.

**In the fall, the back garden becomes a mixture of plants that are both still in bloom, and those which have become less than ‘summertime perfect’**

Which still leaves me with a less than perfect garden that makes me question not only my garden design and choice of plants, but my ability as a gardener in general. And maybe that is just me and not you, but I seem to go through this every year come October, when the garden begins to straddle the seasons. There is always a bit of a ‘come back’ in September when some of the worn out summer flowers spring back to life once the temperatures start to cool down and there is not so much demanded from them; they get a second opportunity and shine briefly. Which lulls me into thinking that everything is okay. And it makes me want to just go outside and garden. But then October arrives and those same plants are saying goodbye, as are many of the perennials; the leaves on various shrubs and trees are beginning to change as well, dropping here and there, altering the light in the garden - a sure sign that summer has passed.

I know that I am a good gardener. I know that I have chosen my plants well. I know that I also do make mistakes, but that mistakes can be corrected (buying more plants!). And truthfully, the garden looks pretty good. I do not know why sometimes I feel that it does not. Perhaps you have struggled with this feeling yourself? I do know that as gardeners, we tend to always expect better and more, and we may judge ourselves too harshly in that pursuit. How many times have we all, even in June when the garden is absolutely gorgeous, apologized for it not looking its best, or for something not being in bloom? The thing that I have to learn is that nothing is ever truly ‘perfect’ - certainly no garden - but that the best kind of garden is simply one that is tended to and loved. Perhaps the fading blooms and drying leaves will not make me feel so anxious tomorrow?

Until next time…

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Projects: Part Two (What did I get myself into?)

October 07, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

In my last blog post, I wrote about a summer project and how it inspired me to potentially do more. And that ‘more’ was most likely to have happened next spring. It was something that I was thinking about. Well, so much for thinking - it suddenly seems to be the time for doing! The more and more that I thought about what I wanted to do - remove the rest of the grass in my front yard to create more pathways and more garden - the more I knew that I had to do it sooner than later. Even late in the gardening season, projects are still viable options - in fact the weather is lovely for working outside now - and so I thought that now should be the moment for me to begin; why wait until April? As I always say - there is no better time than the present.

So, what exactly am I doing? I am removing the remaining grass - or what amounts to a lawn - in my front yard. I am going to put in gravel pathways and additional plantings. This will mimic what I already have throughout the rest of my property. All of my ‘yard’ will now be garden. And this is something that I have been thinking about for many years now. It actually was my original plan when I started to design my garden ten years ago. I never wanted grass or a front lawn; I wanted a garden! So now, all these years later, the initial design concept that I had in my mind - of a house surrounded by a garden - will finally be fully realized.

And as it is still a ‘project’ - that means things can change. I don’t have the entire layout planned on paper. I like to work both visually and physically in the garden at the same time. I start with an idea, but I need to be in the space to see it through. It really is all about digging up the grass and laying down the paths and rocks and moving plants - all in real time - as opposed to some grand blueprint ideal. I have my own ideas - and then I just go outside and get dirty. And before you know it, I have more garden. That is the way I have always worked; the method that I have always used. All of which has served me well so far in my gardening life. So I will certainly be utilizing those same techniques as I go forward with this new project.

And since we are now stumbling into October, the chances that all of my ‘perfect garden ideas’ come to full fruition are fairly slim. I am an idealist at times, but ultmately realize that things do not, and perhaps should not, happen over night. If my new project does not fully come together before the gardening season ends, then I will have the ‘finishing’ to look forward to come spring, which is not a bad thing at all - just something exciting to anticipate. I am sure that I will do as much as I possibly can right away - because part of me is impatient, but I do understand that this will most likely be an ongoing project - to be continued, as they say. And that gives me the winter months to look through my favorite plant catalogs to plan, and perhaps purchase a few new things.

All good projects take time. Good garden design is something that evolves over the years. Personally, I am ten years into this, and my own garden is still changing every day. I keep finding new projects to make the garden better, which is always the ultimate purpose. And not better as in to be ‘better than yours’, but better in a sense of improving the beauty, aesthetics, functionality and sustainability - to be a better gardener in general, and to improve the little plot of land that I am so fortunate to tend. Little by little, project by project, year after year, I am trying. And I will always be trying…

Until next time…

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New Projects!

September 30, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

The seasons may be changing, and the garden may be fading a bit, but there is always time for a new project (or two)! In fact, this time of year is a perfect moment to assess your garden, and to figure out what is working, or not? It may not be the bare-bones time of winter - when our garden structure is completely visible - but when summer flowers begin to fade away and things begin to look less than summertime-perfect, it is a very good time to just take a look around to see what makes you happy, and that which does not. All gardens have a bit of room for some change or rejuvenation. That is how progress is made and how our gardens grow. Do not settle for something that does not make you completely happy. Take a good hard look around and be kind, but critical; there is always room for improvement. Besides, new projects - whether a major garden change, or just some interesting new plants - are fun!

Earlier this summer I changed a small part of my front garden - which had just a bench and some worn out grass - into a brand new ‘area’, with stepping stones and mulch and a few new plants. I took up all of the grass (there really wasn’t much there). I built a small rock wall behind the bench in order to help define the area, as well as to add some winter interest for when the summer plants die back. And within a few hours, the area had been completely transformed - for the better, I think. This had been an area of my garden where I had been contemplating making a change - mostly because I just wanted to get rid of more grass - which really was not attractive and just proved difficult and annoying to mow (I use a hand push, reel mower to cut what little lawn I have left). Anyway, this small patch was more bothersome than beautiful - and I wanted it to be beautiful - so I dug up the grass, planted some new plants (sedum and bergenia), added some mulch and then placed the stepping stones in a pattern to best reach the bench through the plantings.

Overall, the project proved to be rather simple - only a few hours of work to be honest. I started in the morning, took a break and then finished in the afternoon. In gardening time that really is nothing at all. Some projects go on for days, or even weeks. But that is how the garden evolves. And whether it be a simple change, or a long-range plan - garden projects help to make our landscapes what we wish them to be. Maybe all is not possible, but little by little, with some planning and thought - and some hard work, of course - our gardens can become exactly as we envision. And if we change our minds, that is fine - change just creates the new project. As we all know, no garden is ever truly finished. And who would ever want it to be? Any excuse to plan and dream, and then to go outside into the garden to plant and create, is ideal to me; I never would want it to be ‘all done’.

So of course, if taking my own advice, I will continue on and plan new projects. And since it has already been a few weeks since completing the above project, I am already thinking of new ideas and plans. In fact, the previous project has indeed encouraged me to go forward and continue (new projects constantly circulating in my head). Which gets me thinking again about the remaining lawn (the dreaded grass!). Really, barely none of it exits anymore except for a small amount in the front yard that acts as more of a pathway than an actual lawn. Seeing how nice the above project turned out, I am encouraged to once and for all get rid of the rest of the grass. It really is more trouble than it is worth - for me, anyway.

As a new project, I am thinking of removing ALL of the remaining grass and adding a combination of brick and gravel pathways that will meander through the front garden, as I have throughout the rest of my property. It will be a bit of a larger project, and one that will most likely be accomplished in stages - which is fine, because really - what’s the rush? Besides, doing things little by little allows you to take a step back and to look at the ‘whole’ to determine if you are going in the right direction. I usually am a very focused person who trusts my initial instincts, so I think that I am good with this one - and with this decision - but it is never a bad idea to just take a look around once in a while when you are doing something to make certain that you are happy with how things are turning out. No matter, I am very determined for a ‘new project’ and I think that the cooler days of autumn will be the perfect beginning. In fact, I want to get out there right now and start digging up the rest of the lawn! I will be sure to keep you updated as to my progress…

Until next time…

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Fresh Flowers From The Garden

September 23, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

One of the very best things about having a garden is the ability to be able to walk outside and pick a handful of fresh flowers at whim. Filling various vases full of beautiful flowers from spring through fall has become something of a habit for me; an indulgence. It even seems, most times, rather luxurious - just to wander outside, secateurs in hand, and cut to my hearts content. An antique trug is at my side for the more exuberant trips - when I am trying to make an actual ‘arrangement’ - but for most days I find myself simply nipping off a bloom or two, here and there, and tucking them into some old glass bottles that I keep in my kitchen. Even the simplest of arrangements - one or two flowers - can become a thing of beauty.

**A trio of glass bottles beautifully showcases a pretty selection of flowers from the garden**

Traditionally, a simple arrangement of flowers has been called a posy. Any small bunch of flowers, whether arranged in a vase, or tied with pretty ribbon, will suit this definition. And sometimes simpler really is better. Of course one can go ‘all out’ and cut everything in sight and create a truly amazing arrangement, but that is not necessary. Really, my favorite groupings of flowers - short of when extravagance is needed, say at a wedding or special party - is always something very casual, and of course, very pretty. A few simple stems - that is what I always say. Nothing more is really needed.

And might I also add that in order to have beautiful cut flowers in your own home, one does not need to have a large garden with an abundance of plants. Really just a few favorites will do. Of course, the more the merrier, but it is not really necessary. A larger sized garden or designated cutting garden will surely provide lots of blooms, but even a small garden with some carefully chosen perennials - or just a few pots of annuals on the patio, terrace or balcony - can provide all that is necessary to regularly enjoy the pleasure of cutting your own fresh flowers to enjoy indoors. And of course, once you do become accustomed to regularly gathering bunches of flowers from your own garden, you will forever be hooked and wonder how you ever did without?

GARDEN TIP #1: A few simple rules to remember will help to keep your cut flowers looking good for a long time. Always cut your flowers at an angle and remember to remove any foliage that will sit below the water line in your vase. When cutting right from the garden, early morning is best, but no matter the time, try to get them into water as soon as possible. Change the water in your vases regularly and re-cut the stems of your flowers when you do so, again at an angle, to prolong their longevity.

GARDEN TIP #2: Add some hydrangeas to your garden. There are many different varieties and sizes to suit almost any need. The flowers are beautiful and make fantastic cut flowers for arrangements. They are also very easy flowers to dry and can therefore be preserved and enjoyed year round.

GARDEN TIP #3: Be sure to have plants in your garden that provide good foliage. It doesn’t have to be all about flowers - greenery can be pretty too! And certain staple plants provide not only bulk for your arrangement, but also added interest and diversity. Try plants like hosta, brunnera, baptisia, or splash-plant (polka dot plant). All make very good additions to any flower arrangement.

**A trug full of freshly picked flowers!**

Perennials That Make Good Cut Flowers:

Allium
Echinacea
Salvia
Delphinium
Liatris
Aster
Dahlia
Phlox
Agastache
Sedum

Annuals That Make Good Cut Flowers:

Zinnia
Cosmos
Bachelor’s Button
Sweet Pea
Sunflower
Larkspur
Ageratum
Celosia
Gomphrena
Cornflower

Until next time…

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The Last Days of Summer

September 16, 2019 by R. Craig Eaton

We are well into September now, and fast approaching the actual date of the autumnal equinox - which will be September 23rd this year - but as of now, it is still summer. And while most of us have long ago returned from our summer vacations and are now back at work and school, the calendar still reads summertime. And most days seem to play along with that idea. In fact, as our climate warms, it is not unusual to experience warm to hot temperatures well into October and beyond. But of course, come true fall, there is much less light, with shorter days and cooler nights, so no one can be lulled into thinking that summer will last forever. But while it is still here, if even for only one more week, or one more day, or for even one more hour, let us embrace those last few seconds of the season.

**Summer flowers still blooming, with sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ beginning to change over to its fall coloring**

As a gardener, I particularly find it sad to say the final farewell to the days where I find myself most happy and content. I have tried very hard to create a garden that has interest all year long - and it does - and there is always work to be done - but no days in the garden are like summer days. Of course there is spring. And I almost roll that time of year together with summer because they are both true gardening seasons. And that’s not to say that there are not fall crops, or winter garden work, but nothing truly compares to the warmer months of the year when our gardens grow and shine and crave our constant care. My own garden looks pretty good well into November, but it certainly does not look like it does in May or July or even September. And that is the cycle of a garden. The dormant season is a necessity we must endure to again experience the re-birth of our gardens. It’s just sometimes very hard to say goodbye to summer, so that’s why I am suggesting that we do not do so until it is absolutely necessary.

This time of year I usually find that I get some kind of a rejuvenating feeling in the garden. Late August, I may find myself looking around and thinking all is over - but advance the clock a few weeks and suddenly the garden seems to have perked up. Yes, many things are clearly done with for the season, but if I regularly deadhead and keep things tidy, the garden doesn’t look too bad. Asters, anemone and caryopteris keep the garden going. Hopefully many of my annuals will still be putting on a decent enough show. And things are still very green, so all is good; the garden is alive and well.

When people visit my garden this time of year, I almost inevitably find myself saying something like “well, the garden is not at its peak anymore, but…”. And that is simply because, well, as gardeners, we are always our own harshest critics - even though we know full well that our gardens are lovely no matter the season and that there is always something to show off. So even summers’ end cannot, or certainly should not, stop that. We need to hold on to these last precious days for as long as we can. And so for now, it is still summer. Let us not rush the visitor away from our gardens; let us simply embrace the moment. The change will be coming all too soon…

**Deadheading chores in the late summer garden**

**Anemone blooming from August into October**

**Aster ‘Wood’s Purple’ providing beautiful color from late summer into fall**

**Caryopteris putting on a late season show**

Until next time…

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