I guess it's official: winter has arrived. As optimistic as I am, I have a feeling that the snow is here to stay, don't you? No matter, we had a good season. 2010 will probably be the comparison for a long time; even if some of our plants were scrawny and struggling, we'll say, hey, it's better than the year of the flood!
So now that our yard work is done, and the new seed catalogues are not yet in our mailboxes, it's time for you and I to dip into our collection of garden books and learn something new. I have a great little book called "Design", and it has a small section on "Five Ways To Create A Great Garden Design". For those gardeners who have established gardens, we know that our work is never done. A garden always evolves. For those gardeners who have a blank slate outside their back doors, you might be relieved that the snow has come so that you don't have to face up to making all kinds of gardening decisions, and doing the labour that goes along with them! It can be quite intimidating.
For myself, I find that this stage of the gardening year is the perfect time to think about how our yard could be changed. With everything covered in snow, we aren't distracted by the colors and textures of our plants. We can see our yard for what it really is. What are the 'five ways to create a great garden design'? The first step listed is to start; get going, and remember that nothing is permanent in a garden. After a season or two you may have wished that you planted something differently, but you can move things around. Number two is to start small, and don't aim for the Buchart Gardens in your first year. If you try to do too much, you'll run out of time and money, and you'll get discouraged. Number three, do things in an organized fashion. Do the big jobs like laying sod and planting tree and shrubs first, and worry about the smaller things later.
Point number four is to plant a tree; do your homework and decide if you want a tree that will bear fruit, or bloom, or just provide you with welcome shade. Check how a certain tree grows, because if it's a forty-footer and your yard isn't big enough to change your mind in, then please, please choose something else! There are many choices and the experts at the greenhouses can help you find the right thing. Which leads to number five, make a plan. Decide what you want to use your yard for, whether a garden or a grassy area for the kids or a pristine palette that is perfectly planted.
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it! And even established yards can benefit from a yearly appraisal. There might be branches that will need trimming when spring comes, or junipers that need to be hacked back as they cross over from looking lush to looking too overgrown.
The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be holding their annual general meeting on Wednesday, November 23. This is a members only meeting, but members can bring guests. We'll have a s supper, silent auction, and a presentation on beautiful Scotland! Please call Liz if you are planning to attend: 782-2830.
