The Weather Outside Is Frightful

Dear Santa,


I have a huge favor to ask of you. If you run into Mother Nature, could you, would you, please ask her to send us warmer weather. Barring that, maybe she could arrange a warm blanket of snow to cover my garden and protect the plants that I so lovingly tucked into the ground just a few weeks ago. I gave them all a nice drink of water and tucked them in for the winter under a mulch blanket, but, I'm just not sure they are ready for the roller coaster weather ride we'll be on over the next week or so. Heck, I'm not ready for the ride! Ups and down with 30 degree changes in temperatures are hard on plants. Gardeners in colder climates often feel a bit envious that we can grow plants they can't. Plants here, are exposed to the elements all winter long and take a beating. Even when mulched well, they can get heaved out of the ground. You should see the heucheras by springtime. Not a pretty sight. Sometimes, I envy the snow cover that protects a northern garden all winter long.

I just read what I wrote and Santa, I've changed my mind. I don't want a warm blanket of snow on my garden. Do you know what the effect of snow is on a city like Nashville? Schools are closed, people rush to the stores and buy all the milk and bread, the crazy drivers are out and sometimes they shut down the government. I have definitely decided that I would rather Mother Nature send us a mild winter,

xxoogail

*Here's a seasonal song for you all

Dear Nan: In Answer To Your Question

About Hedge (he really does have an enormous personality)...and an apology for not writing a followup post. YET!

I have two really excellent excuses: Priscilla Peahen and the unusual winter weather. Both have eaten up my energy and attention!

If you followed Priscilla F (people have put forth various thoughts on what the F stands for) Peahen's story; you know that she has finally been relocated to a safe place in the country. But, not without a great deal of angst while searching for just the right home. You know, I really miss that big bird, but don't miss her knocking on the front door at 6:30 AM every day.

It's strangely odd Not to be followed by a large bird when I go into the garden

As for the weather! After 30+ years in the Middle South I am a complete winter wimp. The temperatures stayed in the teens for almost two weeks. We were all in shock, especially when it snowed. It was absolutely beautiful out, but colder then we've experienced in a very long time. I couldn't make myself spend time outside if my life depended upon it! I bundled up and went for walks, but, it was a bummer to spend time looking at all that brown and gray in the garden. Even the lawnette had turn brown. Just the week before it had been a green oasis among the leaves and brown foliage. How you northern gardeners deal with winter, day after day, I may never understand...but, I have tremendous respect for each and every one of you.

So, I hardly ventured out, didn't do any garden work and occasionally danced around the issue of Hedge... What could replace him? Did we want hardscape or an evergreen hedge, a mixed perennial border or something entirely unique and different? Did we even want to spend resources on replacing an already working solution to privacy and noise abatement?

Soon he will be in his glory,
shortly after he will morph into the big green
blob that ate the front yard.
spring 2008

I spoke with my friend Sarah this morning. She's a garden designer who has helped me in the past. She understands the issues and has agreed to come up with some ideas. I am inclined to go off on a tear of whimsical ideas that are very exciting to think about~~

From Garden Porn Blog December 2007

Corten steel, galvanized drain pipes as columns, something unique and different! Well, you get the picture! She approaches designing a garden/landscape from the prospective of "there are no precedents in the neighborhood for that type of fence, Gail!" I want to be the precedent setting neighbor. No one knows what I do in the garden anyway with Hedge looming larger then life! Why not have a larger then life precedent!

In answer to your question~Have I made any progress on finalizing Hedge's replacement?

A little!

Warmest regards,
Gail

ps ~ thank you for asking.

*Nan Ondra and the Garden Bloggers Design Workshops