A Two Year Process

I was asked on a comment on my last post about how long I had been working on my garden.  I couldn't quite remember.  So much had changed that it was hard to remember back to what it was.  I had to go back to my photo files.

 This is the way it looked when we had our first look.  There was lawn under the snow, on both sides of the fence.  The clothes line was the dominant feature of the side yard.

In May of 2009, a little more than two years ago, before we even took possession I was pulling the weeds away from the few daffodils hugging the side of the house.  I remember the former owner asking if I wanted to buy her grass trimmer.  My answer was that I wouldn't need one.  There would be no grass to trim.


As soon as we moved in we got rid of the fence and the tree stump and the tree whose roots were causing damage.  I started digging up the grass, and planting what I could scrounge up.  I also bought a couple of rose bushes on sale.

I knew a field where flat rocks were available and our city has a compost site not far from us.  I used newspapers underneath the raised beds of compost to discourage weeds from coming through.

I was able to get quite a few annuals for next to nothing when the beds were done because the season was half way over.

I also planted a few vegetables like cucumbers in the planter and beans, both as a border and for climbing.  We picked up the bench arbor at an outlet that had it cheap because it was missing a couple of caps.

It wasn't until the second year(last year)  that I painted the deck white.  Last spring I was able to get one of the grape vines that I had started at the last house we had.  I didn't expect it to do much the first year, but it took off.

Even though during the summer of 2010 I was at the hospital with my husband most of the time, the garden continued to mature and bless me when I came home exhausted at night.  And even when I was away for almost a month in Toronto while Bruce had his heart valve replaced, the garden kept up a cheerful front.

I thank the Lord for the outlet of my garden during those trying days.  The beauty of God's creation can really be a healing balm in times of trouble. 

This year I have expended a lot of effort into vegetable gardening in two different plots, but my flower garden continues to bless both my husband and myself, as well as being a way of interacting with my neighbors and their children.

Making the Decision

I had almost decided to remove the blaze rose that was attracting so much attention.  (See Why can't I be satisfied?)  I was making a deal to swap roses with my daughter, Anita.  She had rescued my new dawn rose when we moved up north.  But I always liked it and wished I still had it.  Its pale pink flowers were beautiful while still being soft and restful.

I was going to wait till fall and then make the trade.  But then things changed.  It wasn't so much all the people, some total strangers that would stop to exclaim over the blaze roses, they had been doing that all along;
 
and it wasn't even the fact that other flowers in my garden began to compliment the blaze; I was convinced that the blaze was overpowering every other plant. It was something far more weighty.

 

I have always been the gardener in the family.  My husband had never taken an interest in any of my gardening activities, especially not my flower gardening.  But life is changing around our home.  Bruce spent most of last year near death. I didn't expect to have my husband back again, but through God's divine intervention and the restorative nutrients He placed in the lowly coconut,my husband is now well.

But things have changed.  Although I still do most of the gardening, Bruce is often outside with me.  And he has opinions.  Bruce likes the blaze rose bush. 

We often eat our meals on the deck and this is what he sees:

And so it stays. and I am now quite happy with that.

Why can't I ever be satisfied with my garden?

Everyone says it looks wonderful.  And I believe them.  At least part of me does.  I just can't convince my eyes to enjoy it.  Most of it I love, but I just can't get used to the brilliance of my blaze red roses.

I just can't get used to red in my garden. I started this garden with pinks and purples and blues. And then somehow yellows crept in and I found that I rather enjoy a bit of a gilt edge.

But when I saw a blaze rose on sale I was sure I would love it.  I always enjoy seeing them in other people's gardens. 

It has really taken off this year and it almost hurts my eyes.

 
  I realize that I don't like to be shocked by my garden; what I really want is to be rocked.  I want my garden to sooth my emotions and calm my soul.  The red blaze is delightful and striking, but I don't find it soothing.

 But the pink roses are different.

My pink roses are slightly less striking, but they do have a calming effect on me.

 

The question now is, do I leave the blaze for the enjoyment of the neighbors, and to catch the eye of passers by, or do I dig it out, give it away, and plant something that pleases me?  

What would you do?