Aww what a week’s vacation does to the spirit and soul…especially if it includes visits to nurseries and snooping for gardens along the way! Last week I spent time down the Jersey Shore and spent hours of bike riding seeing unique plant combinations and getting lots of inspiration for my next season! Even though the cold tolerance zones do not equal ours here in the North Country…a gardener can gleam color shape and texture combinations….then back home select regional specific plants to match those elements in your own backyard.
And what Jersey shore vacation is complete with out a good book or other reading material! My greatest discovery while reading a local Philadelphia newspaper each morning last week was that my favorite author has taken up “gardening”. Now I know I love this gal! Lisa Scottoline NY Times bestselling author and columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer has recently begun a path that chronicles the trials and tribulations of gardening in her Chester County yard. Her English cottage garden experience reads like the Erma Bombeck of gardeners! What a fantastic find! Her column, Chick Wit in the Sunday edition covered a “watering” issue. Hmm will make sure to cover that topic early next season in a post. Maybe I should send it out to Lisa!
Also picked up a new book to read…The Language of Flowers. Title sounded too interesting for me not to buy. The main character uses flowers and their historical meaning for expression. Will keep you posted on that!
But of course my favorite vacation activity was visiting nurseries and getting those fabulous end of season buys! I brought home home great new accents to fill in spaces and extend my bloom season. Know however, when you secure these great buys…you will need a little more TLC planting this fall. Most important is to make sure your 10 cent plant goes into a $10.00 hole. By that I mean check plant growing habits to be assured you are putting them in the proper garden micro climate; ensure that your hole is well drained (unless this is a plant that likes it feet wet!) and the soil is good, loamy, compost etc. The more earthworms you see..the better the soil! And you better be prepared to water! Although our days are cooler and the morning dew significant, regular watering for the first full year is critical for plant success.
And of course, before you put that plant in the ground…loosen the roots with a hand hoe or score with a serrated tool. These plants often have been in posts all season…and you may notice they are “pot bound”…roots take on a circular direction versus a nice downward vertical. Not a problem if you address this during the planting phase.
So yes…gardens are very much a part of my vacation this time of year. Just think of your time spent with gardens as the meaningful work and nourishing relationship that makes our life rich. And we can all use that anytime!
