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| the carpet of pink are the fallen blossoms from my red bud tree |
That is so true, isn't it. Knowledge is power to share or be superior. To hurt or to encourage. To hoard or to help.
And to quote Dolly (Barbara Streisand) from Hello! Dolly,
Money is like manure; it's not worth a thing unless it's spread around encouraging young things to grow.
Which is actually a quote quoting a quote (say that 10 times fast), because Thorton Wilder said it first.
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| my iris bulbs came from a good friend. They remind me of her every spring. |
I think knowledge is like manure too. It is worth a whole lot more as it is spread around encouraging young things to grow.
Interestingly enough, gardens flourish when both manure and knowledge are generously shared.
My gardens are the results of the gleanings of many people's generously shared knowledge. For which I am so very grateful.
I have several friends who are much more knowledgeable about flower gardening than I am. They have given me tips, bulbs and cuttings, plus they've directed my plant shopping.
I have spent a lot of time (for me) over the past 3 springs, growing a perennial shade garden. It is finally getting to the place I want it. I am not the biggest fan of hostas-which are the favorite low maintenance plant for shade. I want color and blooms. Lots of color and blooms.
It has taken some trial and error, but I've ended up with some orange common day lilies (transplanted from my back yard), and some yellow and red ever-bearing lilies. The red flowers in the picture above are something annual. I also have spindly red and green plant which gets some kind of flowers, but also looks pretty without flowers. I have a low ground cover green and white plant that you can see in the top picture. Not sure what it is either, but, I will also be thinning that down next year. There is also a variation on bleeding hearts.
There is also a rose bush that I cut down almost to the ground every year, and it still comes back with pretty pink flowers.
New this year, I added small plants that will get yellow flowers. I also added pink ever-bearing hydrangeas (they are called something like dancing in the moonlight) that already have flowers plus I have blue ones that are still coming. I have two kinds of hostas that I will thin out as they spread to keep them under wraps.
I like the variation. Lots of leaf color, lots of flower color. All are tailored especially for shade. And most are very low maintenance.
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| curly parsley, basil, chives, cilantro |
I also have two vegetable gardens, plus my herb pots. Everything has taken off like gang busters the past 10 days. I think it is the warm weather. My herbs are full and ready for use. I will be making pesto this week, and I am also on the lookout for recipes that use fresh oregano. I have a ton.
My bean plants just broke the soil 2 days ago, and do you see the tiny tomato on the tomato plant? So exciting!
How does your garden grow?
