Am I a Crazy Gardener?
Monday, May 9, 2016 at 9:30PM Recently I was helping a friend in her garden when I became aware that she was looking at me oddly.
"Oh, I guess you noticed I talk to the plants."
"Yes," she replied. "And you also talk to worms."
It's true. I talk to all sorts of plants and critters. Since none of them have talked back yet, I don't think this makes me crazy, though some folks may have a different opinion.
Wrens are raising a family in this red birdhouse next to the patio. I usually say good morning to them, and they answer me with song.
I am hanging on to each moment in the garden, treasuring the fresh air and the glorious spring blooms. In the front garden, roses and other shrubs are flowering along with annuals and perennials. The vibrant foliage of Japanese maples adds to the colorful scene.
Confederate jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, grows on the arch near pink Anthony Waterer Spirea.
Clockwise from top left: Daylilies in front of the pink bird house will soon be blooming. Behind the bird house is purple Loropetalum and to the left is Anthony Waterer Spirea; Persicaria 'Purple Dragon' grows next to potted Hosta Aureomarginata; Coral Drift roses by the patio; Confederate Jasmine.
Clockwise from top left: Foxgloves; Rosa Mutabilis; Anthony Waterer Spirea; Rose 'Orchid Romance.'
The woodland garden is taking on an enchanted, deep green atmosphere that gleams with golden tints in late afternoon sunshine. I love to walk along the moss paths and watch the light glinting over the plants.
Blooms in the woodland garden are more subdued than those in the sunnier front garden. Above are on the left, Heucherella 'Alabama Sunset' and, on the right, a white woodland phlox.
Clockwise from top left: Fatsia japonica 'Spiderweb' in pot, seen with Strawberry begonia flowers; Ligularia; Indigofera; Bird's Nest Fern, a tropical plant that spends warm parts of the year in the woodland garden.
Ground covers seen here are Liriope and Indigofera.
Summer will be here soon, and bugs and fungal diseases will arrive with the heat and humidity. Flowers will retreat. Some plants will wilt overnight. Others will reach and twine and proliferate like true denizens of the jungle.
Meanwhile, I continue to talk to my garden, and because I am so tuned to it, it responds to my care and love. How about you; are you a crazy gardener, too?
Reader Comments (20)
I think all gardeners are a little crazy but it's a good kind of crazy. We plant in hope that our dreams of beauty will be realized - and they often are! Your garden, as usual, is full of wonders.
Part of the club here Debs :)
And your garden is looking dreamy as always!
I'm a crazy gardener without a doubt. I talk to every critter and most plants - but especially my hostas and hydrangeas. 😉
I speak to plants, worms etc. It would be bad manners not to. How would you feel if you were an innocent bulb having a long summer sleep and some weeding gardener inadvertently dragged you from your slumbers then shoved you back into the soil without even so much as an apology?
I love your woodland garden. Do you consider this to be the best time of year in that area?
If talking to plants and creatures makes me a crazy gardener, then so be it, I admit I'm crazy! Your garden is looking lovely as always and I think it quite right that you say good morning to your wren.
If I dig something up by mistake, or knock a bit off - I blurt out - I'm sorry!
You made me reflect.
I definitely talk to critters (rabbits, birds, bees, worms, etc.), but I don't know that I talk to plants much.
I would say I'm all kinds of crazy though ;) :P
Oh most definitely crazy! I talk to the plants and wildlife - why wouldn't you? I love your arch covered in Trachelospermum, I'm hoping to add some arches to the central structure of the garden and have Trachelospermum already growing to create my secret garden. Is it very hard to keep to the lovely shape you have formed?
Hello, all you crazy gardeners! Thank you for your comments! Christina, you asked me about keeping my Jasmine (Trachelospermum) arch in shape. One vine grows on each side of a sturdy iron arch, so it has been easy to get the arch shape. I do trim it whenever it starts putting out wild shoots, but this is not difficult, just a light trim two or three of times through the growing season. Deb
Ha! I never talk to the plants because there are too darn many that would want to get a conversation going. Most would ask me to water. Others maybe might want a little more room to themselves. No problem talking to the birds though, especially when I hand feed them. Your garden is beautiful. I can see why you want to hold on to spring.
I don't think you are crazy at all. I am always astounded at the beauty of your gardens every time I visit here.
Of course, I'm a bit crazy. I'd be disappointed in myself if I weren't. I talk to my dogs, my plants, the bugs and it never feels weird. Your garden is just stunning. Love that jasmine arch!
I definitely talk to plants, either to admonish (And what do you think YOU'RE doing?) or praise (Very nice, your best blooms ever!). Perhaps some day scientists will prove the plants understand us. You're garden is enchanting. I also like bright colors in the sun and lots of whites or pale colors in shade.
Well plants do make the best listeners. I love your Confederate jasmine with the spirea in front. I've wanted to try CJ for years but thought it might not be quite hardy enough. I love the collage of pink flowers and the sunstruck Japanese maple below it too. Gorgeous!
Oh I love your red birdhouse!! So cute! I don't think I talk out loud to my plants, though sometimes have to say hi to the critters. Either way, I know people think I am a crazy gardener (especially my neighbors who take sharp eye when the lawn is neglected, even if it is for the cause of other plants.) Also, if anyone around shows even the remotest interest in the garden, I drag them all around showing them probably way more than they wanted to see of it!
Oh I would bet 99% of gardeners talk to their gardens....it is part of us....and what beautiful moments in your stunning garden Deb!
I guess we all have to be a bit crazy to do what we do in the garden – and I don’t mind at all being called a bit crazy, I take it as a badge of honour! And yes, I do talk to the plants and the worms – and the snails and slugs get a stern talking to when they stray into my priced hostas….and I also talk to myself when I potter around – I have great conversations every day around the garden :-)
Yes! I am definitely a member of that club! Haha! I have daily conversations with everything growing and living in my garden so I am glad other people do to!! Your garden is breathtaking - I am smitten with that beautiful arch of jasmine over the path and that huge patch of Spirea next to it. So lovely! I loved the pink colors in your gallery especially the beautiful Foxglove and the Orchid Romance rose - a gorgeous name for such a pretty rose. You have created such paradise!
- Kate xx
I'm with you Deb, this time of year in the garden is just AMAZING. new flowers blooming every day with everything in peak form. I do talk to my garden, often apologizing to flowers that need to be cut back, and explaining to the bees that they wouldn't have these flowers if I hadn't planted them, and they should get out of my way...
Your garden is magical Deb. I also always talk to plants and creatures in the garden. And like Diana I apologize a lot.