‘Gardening is not a rational act.’ — Margaret Atwood
Do you consider yourself a seasoned gardener, surveying the perfectly manicured annual and perennial flower beds of your yard? Or are you more of a novice, struggling to plant a simple pot of red seed geraniums for the front porch? Wherever you fit in, including almost anywhere in between, you are certainly not alone since there is a broad continuum of garden knowledge and expertise.
I identify more with the geranium planter. My later-in-life initiation into the garden world was about as subtle as Alice’s mind-blowing travels through the looking glass.
Though I have always appreciated the lush, orderly appearance of the formal ‘professional’ garden (think Longwood Gardens), I never felt the call of taming the wild landscape until I purchased a bed-and-breakfast in charming Victorian Bellefonte. There I was with an 1858 historic home and piece of the town’s history, and the birthplace of the noted sculptor George Grey Barnard, and not a clue about how to revive the yard to achieve the ‘curb’ and guest appeal pictured in those glossy brochures.
Fast forward nine years. Through much learning, as well as trial and error, I have made progress, but a picturesque and well-tended garden continues to be a rewarding but somewhat elusive goal. When should I prune that forsythia? Why didn’t those pricey Martha Washington geraniums thrive? How do I get rid of those annoying, plant juice-robbing aphids on those heirloom roses?
I’ve come to conclude the answer to all those questions is a combination of practicality (that garden sprayer is really expensive), common sense (if the weed torch is used it could ignite that mulch) and, most importantly, research (wow, there are some natural predators for those aphids; I might not need to do anything).
Has it been worth the struggle? Definitely. The benefits of any form of gardening are huge. There is knowing you are helping to preserve the environment, while beautifying it, but there is also the slowly dawning realization that all flora and fauna enjoy a fragile place in our world. To celebrate them through the practice of digging in the soil is therapeutic for body and soul.
How do I get started, you ask? Find some aspect of gardening that intrigues you. That spark. It could be growing veggies for your family, raising roses, attracting pollinators with native plants, helping others through horticulture therapy. Then immerse yourself by researching and talking to others online, attending programs, joining clubs, or visiting stunning gardens near and far. These are all wonderful avenues to begin your gardening journey.
Will all that happens on your garden exploration be rational? Will you ever have all the answers? I guarantee not, but it will be fun and challenging, and maybe even life-changing.
So each week, I am going to bring up another interesting topic in this space that relates to gardening. I am no professional by any means, but I have seen and learned enough things — and made enough mistakes — that perhaps I can be of some help to you. See you next week!
Avid gardener Lora Gauss lives in Philipsburg. Email her at community@centrecountygazette.com.
