The time many Midwestern gardeners dread is upon us; while some welcome the respite of winter and plan for the coming season, others keep growing with row covers and buckets until the last lettuce leaf and pea pod have been harvested. I place myself firmly in the camp of the latter. Every day that a bowl of spinach can be harvested is a cause of joy for me.
The garden, yea my entire yard, has become a canvas on which I work with various plant mediums. Scent, shape, color, texture, and digestibility are all considerations. I have come to desire a seamless flow of vegetation which serve various purposes ranging from delectibility to mere frivolity; in other words, from raspberries to shaggy hybrid tulips.
The back of my property is bordered by a large stone wall. I'm pondering the relocation of my entire berry bramble to the east property line, and planting some espaliered trees in their stead. Trees are marked down in the fall, although varieties may be limited. Gardening has always fueled my sense of frugality. Getting a red maple or apple tree for $4 does wonders for your landscape as well as your budget.
My garden is a landscape puzzle of interchangeable pieces requiring only vision and effort to accomplish the changes. Right now there is a wheelbarrow loaded with ditch lilies (the removal of which was a rare demand on the part of my spouse) needing a home for the winter. A bag of 100 tulip bulbs waits on the porch. Hundreds of rose hips need to be clipped and dried. Tarragon, chives, oregano, and thyme crowd the drying space in my kitchen. Gardening for me never ends and that is why I love it.
