notes and musings from a perennial gardener
Great gardens don’t invent themselves. In fact they can be a lot of work to create. Here are my suggestions for making the task of creating (or revitalizing) a perennial garden from scratch easier and more satisfying.
To begin, dedicate a small notebook to your gardening projects or use an app like Google Keep. Don’t rush the planning stage. Jot down the answers to these questions, and track your progress.
Many of us admire the beauty and romance of English gardens, from formal estates to simple cottage plots. Clipped parteres, pleached lime allees, thatched bungalow pastorals, walled kitchen enclaves — the United Kingdom is unrivaled for its iconic gardens and soaring arboretums.
Blessed with a mild rainy climate and a wealth of plant collections, no other nation has elevated horticulture quite the way the British have. Indeed, gardening there is practically a national past-time. Even city dwellers cherish their “allotments” and balcony pots.
It’s tempting to want to recreate these looks in a North American landscape. But our vastly different growing conditions can make success with many English cultivars a challenge. But there are ways to merge English ideas with American innovation to get comparable, if not entirely authentic outcomes. The results can be just as lovely.
What are some ways to do this? Here’s one approach to get you thinking. Feel free to borrow or adapt whatever appeals to you.
Orchids used to be rare and expensive, but not anymore. Thanks to breeding breakthroughs, orchids suitable for home display are now plentiful and affordable year round.
Phalaenopsis or moth orchid is among the loveliest and easiest to grow. If you like orchids even a little, you’ve probably bought or received one as a gift. Their graceful blooms last for weeks. “Phals” look lovely in any setting, formal or informal, and they make the perfect housewarming or holiday gift.
Once the blooms are over though, most people keep their orchid around for a few more weeks, but eventually it gets tossed. Sound familiar? With patience and the right attention, most “phals” can be coaxed to rebloom at least once. So don’t give up on that recalcitrant orchid just yet!
This article is not by any means a thesis on orchid care. It’s a quick narrative designed to help you coax your orchid to bloom again, along with a handy “cheat sheet” for troubleshooting.