Foxgloves and Forget-Me-Nots
What felicity on earth can compare to that of setting out the seeds for a summer vegetable garden in the midst of the gentlest of April showers? It was like a benediction upon my labors and the fruits to follow…if only it could exercise some sway over squash vine borers…
Elizabeth von Arnim says that ‘Humility, and the most patient perseverance, seem almost as necessary in gardening as rain and sunshine, and every failure must be used as a stepping stone to something better.’
How exactingly true is that statement of my experience! Perhaps I’m reaching a point where I can smile more at my mistakes—and they are many! Or perhaps the sweet little successes I’ve had with forget-me-nots and foxgloves take the sting out of old failures. Whatever the case, I must admit, however, to an incapacitating fear after sprinkling compost over all my flower seeds today. Would the richness of it as a covering burn my little seedlings before they’d had half a chance to emerge? Ah, such are the trials of a gardener! I guess I have only to wait and see, which seems like an impossible task at this point. I was already out today checking on the seeds I sowed yesterday!
I’m so pleased with my flower garden…it looks so dainty and tidy and yet so established. I do hope that those white forget-me-nots which promised to bloom through October are respectable plants and keep their word. And I’m in a fever of anticipation over my new Bouncing Bets. Ever since reading of them in Pat of Silver Bush I’ve been dying to grow them. I don’t even know what they look like—I used to call that beloved magenta summer phlox ‘Bouncing Bets’ out of sheer wishful thinking, but now I have them both. And the phlox is giving me every reason to expect Great Things.
I sowed my cosmos and zinnias on the outer beds of my vegetable garden today. I tried to convince myself last year that the petunias, begonias and marigolds I planted in their place really were better and easier to manage, but, while the latter point may hold true, the fact of the matter is that I just missed them too dreadfully. So, for better or for worse, I’ll have my cosmos and zinnias once again running riot through wandering tomato vines and leaning out over the lawn in a most appropriating fashion. As it should be.
Along the back border I sowed sunflowers and marigolds, and in the middles of the outer beds borage and Chinese forget-me-nots—not true myosotis but a very cheerful little imposter that flowers easily in our hot, humid summer. How I crave and cherish those rare flashes of blue!
Yet again, I planted moon vine with my morning glories, though in five or six years I’ve had but one success. But it was sweet enough—those translucent white blooms unfurling with such unearthly fragrance on summer evenings—to make me try once more.
I’m quite cocky over my foxgloves. I hate to harp on them, but they really are majestic. I think I’ve earned my bragging rights, the way I hovered over them last winter in the basement and nursed them through a long hot summer in little pots on my tree-shaded patio. Their present beauty—pink, white and mauve stakes against the picket fence and flanked with lavender–is enough to make me want to start some more in the basement this very instant.
What an evocative post! We are moving to a new house that has a lovely garden area- you have given me a lot of ideas. Your enthusiasm for your garden is certainly infectious!
Oh, what a lovely post! Thank you for sharing your garden with us…are you planning on posting any more pictures of it? I’ve loved the ones you’ve shared so far!
I can just picture your garden this year ~ overflowing with every imaginable color!
It’s funny that this latest post is all about your garden flowers. Just today, as I was
picking weeds and sweeping away the endless pods of pollen, I came across my
one and only peony plant – so very old and definitely in desperate need of a new
home. (It has only bloomed once in the three years we have lived here but I am
sure at one time it lived in a pristine world of young holly bushes and smaller
trees.) Now, it is but a hidden treasure among tangled ivy and overgrown
forsythia bushes. When I saw it today, I thought about you and how much it
would thrive somewhere in your beautiful garden – surrounded by so many
other touches of your hand. I will definitely see if you have a spot to add this
pink lady to your garden collection.
Oh I am so glad about the cosmos!! I well remember your bridal garden…all arrayed for your wedding reception . Your first garden at your new home had a beautiful”stand “of Cosmos. You are definitely Lena Mae’s great granddaughter!! She grew “gardens” in beds, clay pots and even old cooking pots to display on her porch!!
Thank you for this beautiful post about your garden, Lanier. I love seeing the sweet cat enjoying his spot among the blooms! What I enjoy even more is the encouraging conversation between mother and daughter. It’s certainly a 21st century invention, isn’t it? You have something very unique in your relationship! 🙂
I’m so glad that your growing season is ahead of mine – simply becuase I get to copy your wonderful ideas in my garden. You are inspirational – thank you. Now….if I could only copy your obvious green thumb!!
Dear Lanier,
I discovered your website via YLCF and find a kindred spirit in you!!
I am actually commenting on an unrelated topic. I’ve enjoyed reading through your archives and other topical entries; in particular, your music entries. I am a great Gillian Welch fan and am having an “Olde Tyme” country social/barn dance for my wedding reception ( a live blue grass band, square dancing, etc). However, I am undecided on the music for my processional and recessional music at my ceremony, and since I have heard some beautiful music sung (and played?) by you in the music section, I was wondering if you may be able to suggest some pieces that may be appropriate.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you Lanier.
Sincerely,
Vanessa
Lanier,
Totally off the subject…but I can’t figure out how to e-mail you via the link on the left…
My daughter (age 9) is looking at your website with me, and when I told her you were getting three cows, she immediately wanted to know if you were getting a horse, too. She loves horses and she is going to take riding lessons. She loves all your cats and dog pictures, too. We must go upstairs to read Anne of Green Gables right now! 🙂