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Wednesday 27 August 2014

It Isn't All About Flowers

I have been gardening for quite some time ... taken courses .. seen other countries and how they "garden".
And ?
It never ceases to amaze me how we "start out" on our journey with certain attitudes.
To where we are now, and the flexibility to where we will be in the future.
Meaning our perceptions about "what makes a garden that will make us happy?"

If you would have told me , say ten years ago, that a rock sitting on a piece of driftwood growing moss would make me VERY happy ... well I would have said what have you been drinking ?
The older you get, the more you appreciate all forms of "life"
That doesn't mean we don't have lines drawn in the sand about how a plant should perform though.
I have far less patience for a plant that is totally blah and not living up to what it was to be intended for.
Thus the logic is "the older you get, the shorter your life span is becoming(don't get depressed now!), and the more bang for your buck and pleasure you want from your garden plants"
I think that cuts right to the chase ?
On that road though ... driftwood, some what a metaphor for life really ? rocks, and moss, have a place in gardens more and more .. getting back to natural settings makes us relax more in our gardens I think.
So "No Virginia, it isn't all about the flowers any more !"

19 comments:

CiNdeEsGaRdEnOfLiFe said...

It is especially that way for me too. The older I get, I realize that I don't have long enough to see a tree grow up etc. It is a sad thought but a real one and that makes my gardening all the more special(-: Not a moment to waste with things that are not making me happy(-:
Love your rock.(-:

Barry said...

It is amazing what can make us, as gardeners, happy! I too have a pair of stones with the words 'Welcome to my Garden' painted on them. In recent years the paint has started to fade, but for me it shows just how long I have been creating my green sanctuary!

outlawgardener said...

As we grow older, time seems to go so much more quickly and flowers are very fleeting. While I love the sensual delight of their colors and fragrance, the longer lasting beauty of evergreens, driftwood, moss, rocks, etc. are taking a much more prominent role in my garden as well.

rochefleuriegarden said...

You are quite right and your photo is beautiful.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Cindee girl : )
Thank you girl and yes! we are together on that one .. we have to make our time quality time to enjoy what we have .. no wasting it on plants or situations we don't like!

Hello there sweetie : )
We both consider our gardens an sanctuary and just how long we have been working on them .. I have some special pieces that mean a lot to me as well as my natural ones .. time to simply enjoy!

Dear Mr. TOG .. loved that artichoke flower to bits!
Isn't it odd how we all begin to think alike as we age? .. Baby Boomers that love their gardens hold a special connection between themselves !

Alain you are always so sweet to me : ) thank you ! Funny how exciting a rock growing moss can be and better yet when other gardeners appreciate that too !

tina said...

Well said! I agree so completely. Even big old plain rocks in a garden are very delightful (though not under my lawnmower). Love the combination!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Thanks Tina girl ... funny how our attitude changes as we get older eh? I appreciate just about everything, except the bad bugs and sweltering weather (both of which have not been so oppressive this years !!)

Paula @ Blooms 'n' Spades said...

I so agree with you Joy. Years ago I'd have laughed at anything to do with gardening making me deliriously happy, and now look at me! Your moss covered rock is enchanting.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Paula girl I think we appreciate so much more as we age, especially gardeners because of the "life" of plants that gives us so much enjoyment .. we suffer loses that heightens that same appreciation .. life and death cycle.
I find because of our wicked winters, our feelings are that much more exaggerated when we see Spring coming ! LOL

Kit Aerie-el said...

Oh my dear Joy, you have nailed it! "Everything changes and nothing stands still" ~Heraclitus
And I'm lichen moss on rocks more and more!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello there Aerie-el !
I'm glad you are positive about lichen the moss on rocks girl!
It really is a mini garden all on it's own : )

Anonymous said...

I feel the same way girl! Totally get why your rock makes you happy. I need to get better at removing non-performers tho. I've been a bit lazy, once I plant something, I tend to leave it.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hey there Kathleen girl .. yes, I used to leave plants even though I was not happy with them .. but now, I kick them out a lot sooner !LOL
I do love my rocks : )

Rose said...

Since I really didn't start gardening until I retired, it's taken me longer to come to this realization, too. I still love my daylilies and the bright annuals of summer, but I've come to appreciate more and more the things that last. I think that's why I have fallen in love with plants like heucheras whose foliage looks good all season long. And the most important thing--forget the magazines, etc.; your garden should make YOU happy and no one else matters! Love your driftwood and moss.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Rose girl(Thank you so much!) and how right you are about gardening for ourselves.
I garden for me : ) and I appreciate so much more now than I did way back when I first started .. is that aging in general ? or something particular with gardens and gardeners ? LOL ...

Marguerite said...

I love your driftwood and rocks. Subtle yet attractive. I am looking at my flower garden and realizing how all out perennial crazy I went. hmm, maybe I'm still in beginning gardener stage?

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Marguerite you will find almost each year you go through stages in gardening .. we all do it and it is funny to look back say in about 5 years from now to see how you have progressed in style and taste : )

Jennifer said...

I agree that experience and age leads you to appreciate the more subtle things like moss on a rock.

Carrie said...

Love it! I truly learnt to appreciate moss whilst in Japan. I adore the love and care that goes into looking after all beauty there. Stones in little hills of moss are my favourite. Your drift wood and stone are a delight xxx