You are currently viewing Where did spring go?

Where did spring go?

Spring? What about summer? This year has flown by. As I scroll through my camera’s photo library, I see the gardens we planted for clients and the gardens at our office and along Wasson Way, but I feel like I missed it. And this, my friends, is a good thing. We were busy. Busy with our traditional landscaping projects, but especially with the design, installation, and tending to of new pollinator gardens. Many of this year’s pollinator gardens are front yard gardens with much if not the entire lawn transitioned to a garden. Even more exciting is how many of the new gardens were for first time gardeners.

What does this tell me?
Word is getting out that planting with nature is a beautiful way to address your front landscape. It also tells me that when we, and I’m speaking to my fellow garden enthusiasts here, take the time to educate and work with new gardeners, we will see more novice gardeners planting for nature. It’s simple to understand- no one wants to be a failure. If we tell people, you must plant this way and then leave them to fend for themselves, they will either not plant a new garden, or struggle on their own. And if the new gardener is met with constant challenges, disappointments, or outright failures, how likely will they be to try again next year? Not too likely I would hazard.

When we spend time with new gardeners: sit with them, talk about plants, do some simple weeding together (they may be fearful to pull the wrong plant), and be on hand at the changing of the seasons, we create empowered, enthusiastic, and successful gardeners who are more apt to inspire others to do the same.

When I speak to garden groups about spreading the word about planting for nature, I remind listeners to be honest. This way of gardening is not easier per se, just different. It’s more forgiving in some respects, but for new gardeners planting with nature will still hold challenges. It’s not no care, it’s a different way to care for a garden. And certainly, it’s not no water, it’s less watering once the garden is established. Setting realistic expectations is imperative when promoting planting with nature. But just as important is saying to that new gardener, I will be here to walk you through the gardening process, answer questions, and relate the garden to you as it changes season to season.

We do not garden in a vacuum. We may spend blissful time alone in the garden, but how we plant and what we plant impacts the greater garden community. You may not be thinking about it, but when you opt to plant native coneflowers and Little Bluestem in your front yard, you are inspiring others to do the same. Your garden is speaking to the public with a new plant language: one of plants that support nature.

Leave a Reply