Hard Decisions

looking toward the unsatisfactory driveway some years ago

My garden, like myself, is no longer young and freshly planted. We have been here awhile, and the signs of maturity are equal parts dignified and disconcerting. Once this property was almost a blank space with few trees and mown grass, now it holds almost thirty years worth of plantings, some grown quite large. Large enough that it is time to consider whether to keep some of the less stellar choices I have made.


This year had seen the apex of neglected gardens and the aftermath of some of Nature's affronts. January's ice storm had drawn down the branches of the trees with a merciless hand, showering the house with crashes and clatterings of broken branches throughout a night of fiercesome pruning. The spring and summer were times to reshape the willow, and pull out the broken off branches of the large Arborvitae, tasks only finished this past week.

The willow may actually be the better for its massive pruning. But the Arborvitae, a tree of some age, is looking like a balding and scruffy personage after huge branches broke under the heavy weight of the Northwesterly ice which had coated large arms of its stature with a burden that it could not withstand. Although many other trees had lost a good deal, like the pines especially, nothing took the brunt so greatly as did this particular Arborvitae.

Past experience with these plants is that they come back well after such mishandling by either nature or the gardener's hand. Some globe Arborvitae (much younger in age, but all the more roughly broken) had suffered from snow weighting their branches to the breaking point and were severely misshapen. The globes looked split down the center; surprisingly, they recovered within a year. I thought I would have to remove them, but procrastination on my part worked in their favor, for once. I now expect the regrowth to fill in the tree in a few years.

The other age related wrinkles in my garden are not so optimistically regarded.

This past week, as I mentioned, I have trimmed and pruned many shrubs and trees, and while there is still much to do, the garden is shaping up... but the mistakes of the past years are all the more exposed. I really have to remove some fringe trees which have not thrived in the too dry conditions of the driveway, and the doublefile viburnums are trimmed within an inch of their life, but still do not fit within that same area. It was a grand mistake I made that I hoped could have been mollified with efforts on my part. It is obvious that I need to remove them.... I just hate to do it, because I doubt if I can save them once they are pulled out. That area has been a challenge for me in more than one way. It remains to be seen if I learn to understand what answer it requires.


An old garden will tell you what doesn't work for it, but will still make you dig for answers on what does.


There are other parts of the garden that are not aging as well as I had hoped. The Lavender walk is suffering from the enthusiastic growth of the rue, the encroaching grass, and the awkwardness of the surviving lavenders. I've debated taking it out, although perhaps removal of some of the rue and replanting with new lavenders might be all that is needed.


The worst part of an old garden is the way weeds come to make themselves at home within the older plantings. A newly planted space has none of that.


The longer I live and the longer I garden the more I find one tip that works for many a problem. That is the power of a consistent attention to what is needed. If every day I work for a few hours or even a few minutes, if I bend down and pull some weeds here or there as I pass.... and not leave the garden neglected until there is a marathon amount of work to accomplish.... I sustain some form of victory. A garden is made of little attentions given often.... much like every other relationship we may desire to cultivate.

And with that nugget of wisdom I leave for another time, my friends.
~Ilona

Arborvitae trees and Willow in better days

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© 2011 written for Ilona's Garden Journal. An excellent blog.

August is time to divide and plant perennials

Butterfly within the Lilac Branches

Every year, August feels too hot and dry to be digging and planting, but late August is an especially good time to give new perennials a start in the garden. The trouble with this time of year is mainly the hot sticky weather for the gardener, and it is often too dry for the plants. That means attention to watering is usually necessary. Yes, you can wait until September in Ohio, but it is often as dry and full of sunshine as August, and you have less time before winter conditions for those plants to get rooted into place. So, August it is. This year August is proving good for plants that need to be transplanted. We are having regular rainfall here - and moderate temperatures (relatively speaking). I have dug up an Echinacea I wanted to move, sliced it in half, and planted it in the prairie bed. To tell you what else I've been doing would infer it is the best time for it, it isn't; but like all things in life and in the garden sometimes the job must be done, even though the time is not ideal. So, all the pruning and trimming I've done is mainly for the sake of a "garden gone wild" which sorely needs to be taken in hand. This year I planted precious little due to my out of town schedule, but I am getting the yard to look more like a gardener actually lives here. Restoring the little pond is on the agenda, and I will soon dig out the overgrown iris and waterlilies. Some of the surrounding rocks need to be reset, which takes me longer now than in my youth. All in all, I am happy to be working in the garden, although there were a few days when I was literally dripping with the effort.

I have had the pleasure of observing hummingbirds and butterflies, who for some reason simply love the shelter of the old lilac (one of the bushes I have been pruning and reshaping).Hummingbirds are very curious and they whiz about my head, which is how I come to be aware of them when bending over my work. Cardinals and goldfinches have also been sighted this month. The children also obtained a new kitten. Tortoiseshell in looks mewing pitiously for its old home and companions, my old cat has not taken to it. He does not suffer fools gladly.Maybe that is why I like him so well. Enough conversation, it is a fine day for gardening and I must go back to my efforts within the garden. Til later, friends- Ilona

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© 2011 written for Ilona's Garden Journal. An excellent blog.

Notes from Chicago

Today we had our first experience of a large ( for Ohio) earthquake. A landmark day you might say. In Chicago there was something equally earthshaking with the Awakening convocation. I loved being there in Chicago and there is a certain exhilaration to the entire area. I visited the Baha'i Temple- a place I often went to when living in Evanston. It has beautiful gardens surrounding a lacy white Oriental style edifice. I have a picture of a reflecting pool for you. The gardens are done in the Islamic manner of regular and symmetrical gardens and I noticed a number of fragrant types of flowers chosen. There are segments of differently themed gardens with fountains in the center, stone steps separating each transition from garden to garden. Nestled within a typically American neighborhood of beautifully landscaped homes, it was a lovely day trip.

Finding the Olive Oil restaurant in Wilmette was a wonderful pleasure- because you always want to eat well when visiting an area like Chicago, so diverse in ethnic makeup. "Like eating in Israel" caught my eye, and I decided to give it a try. If it hadn't been such a hot and humid day I would have eaten at the sidewalk tables, but stayed inside and ordered the Isreali meatball and okra- I always jump at the chance to eat okra. The Turkish coffee was ordered, as well, because I always sample it if it is offered on the menu. The main entree was perfectly done, with a mound of saffron rice in the center and a flavorful stew of tomato based sauce with okra and spiced meatballs I enjoyed every single bite. Ordered chicken shawarma.to take back to the kids... which turned out to be simply wonderful with fresh Israeli salad (a type of fresh salsa) with some wonderful and flavorful yogurt sauce. to put on the savory chicken within the pita sandwiches. Excellent and large servings that easily fed three girls (OK, I am no longer a girl... but you know!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ // ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ © 2011 written for Ilona's Garden Journal. An excellent blog.

Chicagoland Visit

Snapshots of Evanston Yards

 While in Chicago last week, I managed to  visit my old neighborhood in Evanston, a suburb on the lake. The neighborhoods are still quiet and beautiful, the beaches alluring, but a few things have changed. The houses used to be almost uniformly painted in shade of light gray with deep gray trim. Now you will see a wide range of Craftsman era color. I think it looks good and the Lake climate creates lovely conditions fro the gardens.

Another change was the inclusion, in some parts of the neighborhoods, front yard vegetable gardens. No one can complain about their looks- they are well integrated and some of them were screened behind waist high hedges.

Front Yard Vegetable Gardens

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© 2011 written for Ilona's Garden Journal. An excellent blog.

Good Reason To Eat Locally Grown Tomatoes

 
Photo credit: robbinssky

If you weren't convinced already, the truth about your store bought, commercially grown tomato is out and being broadcast.

Everything You Wanted To Know About Tomatoes But Were Afraid To Ask

gives everyone a heads up on the new book, Tomatoland, by Barry Estabrook



If ever there were a plethora of reasons to grow your own tomatoes and patronize your local farm markets, and groceries that carry locally grown produce - it is now. The word is out on what many of us have known, not only do commercially grown and shipped tomatoes not taste good, they are not good for your health, either.

This year I grew some heirloom tomatoes, and while it was not a banner year for my produce garden, there are those who have had better luck and they supply the markets, and at this time of year anyone in my area can get deliciously tasty, juicy tomatoes for their favorite recipes. I love BLT's, Margarita pizza, fire and ice salads (made with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers!). And what is that grilled hamburger without the fresh tomato slice? Well, during winter, when only the store bought tomato is available it may be time to skip the tomatoes and learn to eat in season.

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For a fresh tomato salad:
Fire and Ice
Get the best, most flavorful tomatoes you can lay your hands on ( hopefully right in your own garden) and slice them up.
Add scored and thinly sliced cucumbers. Arrange them attractively on a plate.
Make a garlic infused vinaigrette or just splash on some good old Wishbone dressing.
Serve and enjoy- what is simpler or more pleasurable at the end of summer?
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© 2011 written for Ilona's Garden Journal. An excellent blog.