Monday, September 10, 2007

7 random garden facts

Over a month ago, Kitt at "The Kittalog" tagged me to do a "7 Random Garden Facts" meme. (And you didn't believe procrastination was my worst habit!) I'm not sure why, but this has been a hard one to do. So I'm just going to write 7 things that jump into my head right now, and that will be that. Kitt - thanks for tagging me - I probably seemed like a natural for this meme - but evidently, not so much!!!!

Early this summer, we were out on the boat one day cruising the shoreline, looking at houses and yards. I said something like - but why don't these people do gardens???? Without missing a beat, Mark said, "Maybe they have lives." OUCH! But yes, my first garden fact is that if you're really into it, gardening takes a heck of a lot of time.

Nothing has to stay in one place forever. An alternate definition for gardening could be: moving things around in one's yard. I have some plants that move yearly - some gardens that undergo complete renewals every year or two... you get the picture. I love that if you goof or change your mind or whatever, you can grab a shovel and do it over!
Gardeners love to share their gardens. They love to have people walk through their gardens and ooh and ahh over everything. They love to talk gardening. If you garden, you can strike up a conversation based on gardening anywhere in the world. This is the primary reason I started blogging - to have people ooh and ahh over my gardens. :)
And, they love to share their plants. Plants always need dividing, etc, and most gardeners are thrilled to share their extras. My experience has been that gardeners are very generous.
Being able to grow plants in the dirt outside does not necessarily mean you can grow plants in little pots in the house. Indoor and outdoor gardening are two very different talents.

The more you play in the dirt, the more confidence you will have in your abilities to garden. Most of my gardening friends and I have acquired our design talents from doing. (I'm not actually claiming that I have talent, but I'm better at figuring out what I want than I used to be.)
When we first moved in here, we had an almost totally shady yard. I grew up on a farm. My mom's gardens were total sun. So I went to a small nursery near our home and asked them to design a shady garden for me. The gardens themselves are long gone, but I still have some of those plants - snakeroot, turtlehead, geranium, Jacob's ladder, lungwort - things I didn't even know about when I started. Everyone has to start somewhere, and it's okay to get some help.
And, because I took so long to do this meme, a freebie: Rototillers (and the men who run them!) are a gardener's best friend!

18 comments:

kate said...

This was a fun read. Thanks for sharing - I agree that gardeners are very generous and it's possible to strike up a gardening conversation anywhere in the world. It is a world unto its own. I love the last photo... is it turtlehead? The colours are gorgeous.

I'm a procrastinator too ... oh I wish it were otherwise!

kris said...

Hi Kate - the last photo is physostegia (hope I'm spelling that right!) - the common name is obedient plant. My neighbor gave me some last year, and I am loving it - nice shot of color in the late summer garden - it just started blooming.

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

I can relate to what you wrote so well! Except for what your husband said. In my opinion, gardeners are the ones who really have a life worth living. I suspect you will agree. Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

kris said...

Hi Cindy - Mark was joking - he knows how much I love working in the gardens, and he totally enjoys the beauty they add to our yard. I'm sure sometimes it does seem like I don't have time for anything else though!! (My retort back was they may have a life, but it's not a very pretty one - lol)

Toni said...

Hi,

I sure can tell you love your gardens and your pics are great.
Thanks for sharing. Toni

Karen said...

This was really fun to read! I admire people who have that "gardenering spirit." I can see that a lot of work goes into it, but it's so worthwhile in the end -- to the gardener and all the other people that get to enjoy it! Thanks!

violetlady said...

I wrote a long comment and for some reason it didn't show up and now I forget it. But, I was here!

Anonymous said...

Hi there! (This is also my 2nd comment!!!) You have been really busy on here - too much fun - those MEME!!! (okay ~ you always were smarter than I was!)

Love your pics and enjoy the way you write - just like you are sitting right here talking to me!

Love you tons...Patti (the pretty sister - LOL)

kris said...

I'm sorry you guys are having trouble leaving me comments - I love to read the nice things everyone says!! :)

Patti - I'm the fun one. Oh, and before you grab it, I'm everyone's most favorite aunt too. Ha!

Kitt said...

Brava, Kris. Hard to believe summer is almost over, isn't it? Though I find myself looking forward to next spring and a chance to start gardening again in earnest.

Giddy said...

Gardeners are very special people. I've never met one I didn't like! They are loving, caring and giving people. Just ask anyone who has been the recipient of a gardener's gift of zucchini! Love your memes - very entertaining.

Unknown said...

You inspire me. Now I only need a 26 hour day to get it all done.

Your pictures give me a measure of comfort. Don't ever stop posting them.

meresy_g said...

You've been busy. Kitt tagged me for that meme awhile ago as well. I'd better get to it. Your gardens still look great. Most of mine are brown and crunchy and giving up the ghost. After spending two weeks at the beach, I have to say that you are so blessed to be living on water!

Anonymous said...

Hi - just catching up on your blog, and noticed that you and Patti have been busy taking all the admirable traits of our family. Don't forget me, the calm cool & collecive one...we can't all have brains & looks!

Love you!

kris said...

LOL, Mary!! I was hoping you would get in on this!! Poor Mike - I don't know if there are any "good" traits left!

kris said...

Candace - we could ALL use a 26 hour day!!

Meresy_g - 2 weeks at the beach - cool! We are blessed to live here - but I have to say, time at the beach is always welcome too! Did you get some kayaking in??

Unknown said...

What a great list, Kris! I admit that #2 (the one about moving) is currenty both the joy and the bane of my existence.

I'm smiling about the showing-off-the-gardens and gardeners' generosity comments. I know the latter, I really do... and yet I'm always a little nervous when I post pictures of my gardens or have someone walk through them. Will they like them? Will they think I'm crazy? I think that some of these insecurities still remain from my rather conservative former husband's influence... and yet, there they are.

Beth said...

Well said Kris! This was an excellent post.