Thursday, September 22, 2011

Garden Regrets

What I grew this year: sweet corn, chocolate tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, yellow squash, lemon balm, cucumbers, potatoes, raspberries, sunflowers, cilantro, horseradish, green beans, white onions, chives, asparagus, jalapeno peppers, green bell peppers, habanero peppers, rue, German chamomile, white sage, kiwi seedlings, cosmos, marigolds, mesclun lettuce, aaaaaaaaaaaaand spinach.

What I wanted to/tried to grow but didn't get to plant or didn't work out: pumpkins, epazote, valerian, soapwort, comfrey, jicama, dill, carrots, motherwort, money plant, indigo, mignonette, eucalyptus, St. John's wort, angelica, parsley, paw paw seedlings, strawberries, shallots, ginger, bronze fennel, snap peas, wheat, millet, Indian corn, big, beautiful, fragrant roses, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand lavender.

I really, really, really want to grow lavender and roses that smell wonderful. I am beginning to realize that I have to prepare a special garden bed for lavender that is dug down at least 3 feet, lined with gravel, and filled with rich loam that has a lot of sand mixed into it to grow lavender successfully in my yard. And roses? I am going to have to spend more than $18 per plant and prepare a special bed  for the kind of roses I want to grow.  Will I make the necessary commitment to do the work and prepare the right growing environment for these 2 special, wonderfully aromatic flowers? Yes! Spring 2012 is in my head right now, mentally making lists of "things to do" for the garden. First up, location, location, location! Where will I prepare the lavender bed and the rose garden? Both need full sun and dedicated space that won't get overgrown by garden neighbors and special bed preparation and the roses need mulch. Oh, so many kinds of mulch...which to use for the special, expensive, beautiful and fragrant roses I will buy next spring? Decisions, decisions.

Autumn is the time of year for garden regrets, wishful thinking about next spring's garden and garden "housework." Harvesting, pulling out browned plants, composting, cleaning out vegetable garden beds, bringing in houseplants from the patio and gazebo, fixing borders, etc., etc., etc. Enjoy the last sunshine and mild temperatures before colder temperatures set in, and keep on gardening, even if it's only in your head!

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