28 Jul 2017

Reluctant Gardener

by | posted in: Simple Garden | 7

Inside: What happens when someone forgets to return the weed whacker? Writer and reluctant gardener Beverly Robertson explains in her guest post.

Reluctant gardener.
A Reluctant Gardener’s flower bed. Picture courtesy of Beverly Robertson.

 

As I now gaze out my front window and enjoy the view of lilies, hostas, sedum, and other plants leaning against a white fence, I remember a time when this was only grass and weeds. A weed whacker kept things under control, but one day it disappeared. Someone borrowed it, I think, and I despaired of it returning home. The whole scene frustrated me to see this unwanted foliage grow taller.

In desperation, I dug up the ground and gradually planted a few hostas then later kept digging and planted lilies. Being the reluctant gardener that I was, I found things that almost grew by themselves, such as sedum. Someone said impatiens grew well in the shade, and because we have several large trees near the area, I planted these annuals between the shrubs surrounded by stone and the sidewalk. A ceramic frog and a few other ornaments accented the plants.

One day when my young grandchildren came to play, my grandson said to his sister, “Look, Zoey, a little garden.” Then I realized, yes, this is a pretty little garden, and I’m glad that weed whacker took so long to come home!

Are you a reluctant gardener? Tell us about it in the comments.

Related posts: Life is Like a Garden

My Adventures Growing Zinnias

Best Time of the Day

Gardening Advice From a Thirty-year Greenhouse Veteran

Bev's bio picture.

Beverly Robertson is a retired elementary school instructional aide. She completed a course from the Institute of Children’s Literature and is a graduate of Delta College with an Associate Degree in literature and writing. She sings in her church choir and has presented her Bible Bride stories and other studies to her women’s group. She is married and lives in Michigan with two spoiled cats. She has finished a novella and is working on a sequel. Her latest project is publishing a book on Bible Brides that will be out soon.

 

7 Responses

  1. calensariel
    |

    I had the people at the garden center tell me impatiens grew well in the shade, too. So we planted them where the tree shades the front of the house in the afternoon. Those suckers just would not grow there.. Don’t know what we did wrong…

    • amy@amyharkemoore.com
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      Could be a number of things. Condition of the soil. Too much or too little water or not getting water at the right time. Or the temperature. So many variables to growing plants. I love it, but I can see how some people get frustrated with it! Thanks for the comment, Calen! 🙂

  2. Patsy Reiter
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    Bev, the perennials and annuals lining the walkway to your front door are beautiful. Aren’t you glad the weed whacker disappeared for a period time? Now you have a little bit of heaven right outside your door. Enjoy.
    Patsy

    • amy@amyharkemoore.com
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      Thanks for the comment, Patsy. Hopefully Bev is tuning in. 🙂

  3. Debra Allard
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    Nice garden walkway. I enjoyed reading the article and also learning about Beverly. I read your first bride book and loved it. Looking forward to the sequel and your anthology. 🙂