On Saturday night, clocks “spring forward” one hour. I discovered that the garden has been preparing for the light that will return on Sunday morning. While I have been hurrying into the car on our winter days, I have basically ignored the garden. At last I had eyes to see that early spring has emerged. How reassuring it is to me that the garden is awakening irregardless of the care it might receive in the days ahead.
From wonderful garden tours to England, France, Italy, Seattle, famous American gardens and local tours in North Carolina, I have experienced the difference it seems to make when only the spirit of the gardener remains. I am keenly aware that my own garden is not the same now that I need others to come at times and help. I have learned compensatory skills like dragging bags of potting soil on a tarp rather than carrying them. Digging out a dead shrub requires sitting down a few minutes afterward. It may be my imagination, but my diminishing gardening energy leaves the garden diminished as well.
By now you know I love a story, to hear them, and tell them. Each of these photographs has a story, or maybe more to the point, a lesson in gardening for this gardener. The Little Gem Magnolia, that I brought from our Governor’s Club garden was at that time, movable.Today it is planted too near the house and continues to grow. (The ‘Little Gem’ is a new generation of Magnolias for small gardens.)
The quince was dug up from a garden in Spring Hope as a rooted runner that I could dig and pull free. A quince is a generous shrub producing a zillion buds and blooms. I never dreamed it would reach the size it is today. Everyone needs a quince in their spring garden.
I bought The Flag magnolia from a nursery that was small enough to transplant from the Governor’s Club garden. It is a year around shrub in that it has something to offer in all the seasons.
I have camellias throughout the garden. Camellia japonica and
Camellia sasanqua: Blooms in the fall and winter.
Main Street Rocky Mount 