Garden guy column: Enjoying the garden
Like many dedicated gardeners I continue to work in my gardens in the heat. Unlike most smart gardeners who work early in the cool of the day, I usually don’t begin work until late morning or after lunch. The problem is that once in the garden, I don’t stop to do other necessary things. Thus, if I am to exercise (in recent years that also means physical therapy for shoulder injuries and surgeries), there are bills to pay, articles to write, etc., I must do these first if they are going to get done.
The heat doesn’t seem to bother me as much as it does some people, but I am very aware of it. This means that I take frequent breaks for water and to cool down. And as I get older and wear out more quickly, the breaks are longer. I use these breaks to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
I have three benches in various parts of my gardens and four other more formal sitting areas from which to enjoy the gardens. These were sited not only to give different views, but also to ensure that I had places to sit in any weather, in almost any wind, and no matter where the sun is in the sky. The four sitting areas are all under roofs – either porches or the gazebo while the benches are in niches of plants to provide additional protected locations from the cold of winter, the afternoon heat, the prevailing winds, or other adverse conditions.
These various vantage points provide interesting, different perspectives of the gardens. They are useful for planning and design as well as for enjoying the gardens. Many of these areas contain objets d’art.
These might be better classified as stuff, and some might consider it junk. But this is one way that gardeners express themselves, entertain themselves, or simply seek to enhance their garden spaces.
Among our collection are eight birdbaths, at least two bunnies, a pink snail, a frog on a stake (you must see to understand), some statuary including urns and two fountains, and several other things. One unique item is a wrought iron trellis that I designed and had built for a climbing rose. It was designed to complement a wrought iron gate that is nearby. All these items are in addition to nearly 50 assorted containers of plants that my wife tends.
There are many kinds of gardens to create and many ways to create them. Best of all, there are more ways to personalize them than there are gardeners. This is chief among the reasons that I enjoy visiting others’ gardens as often as possible. I am not above stealing ideas as I enjoy others’ work.
The dog days provide a good time to reflect on your own gardening style and design and look for more objets d’art for your personal touch. These provide extra dimension and whimsy and serve to make your gardens more personal and unique.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Garden guy column: Enjoying the garden
