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| The Corner Bed |
The corner bed, aka the winter bed, aka the problem bed looked so nice!
I smiled. Then, I began to analyze.
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| Crabapple blooms |
It must be because of the blooms! The pink crabapples were still blooming, and below them, Carefree Beauty rose was just starting to open up her sweet pink petals. Below Carefree Beauty, pink dianthus was blooming profusely.
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| Dianthus under Carefree Beauty |
And every now and then, I could get a glimpse of the annual cyclamen blooming beyond the boxwoods.
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| A glimpse of cyclamen |
It all came together, looking quite lovely.
But I wasn't convinced that was the reason for my infatuation with this bed.
Was it because I had recently moved a number of plants, and added more to this bed? The plants are so small, they barely peek over the boxwoods. So, I didn't think my transplanting splurge was exactly what held my attention.
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| Looking over the boxwoods is rewarded |
All the other plants that are now blooming - the hellebores, the hardy cyclamen, the dianthus I purchased as an annual but has lived for three years now, are also too short to see unless you look over the boxwoods surrounding them. That definitely couldn't be it!
Maybe it was just the fact that I recently mulched this area. Mulching always makes the beds looks so nice.
I found myself drawn to this corner bed. The bench that previously had been only for looks was now being used. Before, I could never rest there. Something else always seemed to grab my attention. But now, I found this area calming, soothing, peaceful.
Still trying to solve the mystery, I chose to get another opinion. I casually remarked to my husband, "The corner bed is looking quite nice this year", and then waited for his response. What he said blew me away.
"I've noticed it, too."
Well! It wasn't just me, or my imagination! There was something magical about the corner bed!
What was it?
Patience is a lesson gardeners learn over and over. Patience to wait for spring's arrival (I think our patience has been very much tried this year!). Patience to wait for seeds to magically transform into plants. Patience to wait years before the garden matures. It's the last one that many gardeners yearn for. A mature garden seems serene, peaceful, calm. And that was my first clue. The second was that the boxwoods seemed to be key to everything in this bed.
Then I realized - I had waited so many years for the boxwoods to grow into a hedge, and finally they had! Every year before this one, I would see open spaces between the boxwoods. Every year I would anxiously say to myself, "maybe next year". No wonder I could never rest in this area before!
This year, however, there was no separation. The boxwoods had finally matured, growing together to form a perfect frame. It was such a natural occurrence that I hadn't even noticed it immediately. But I had felt it.
Is this part of my garden mature? Of course not. There are many, many years separating this bed from maturity. But, the boxwoods have finally shown me a tiny glimpse of the beauty, peace, and joy of having a mature garden.
That is, if I patiently wait for it.
I'm joining Helen at The Patient Gardener (how appropriate!) for End of Month View.
Patience when waiting for that maturity is a difficult one. I'm just starting year two of my first garden, and the temptation to just keep stuffing things in to try and get there is really hard to resist!
ReplyDeleteThat box area does look like it would be a lovely place to relax with a book. Thanks for sharing!
That's exactly what I do - stuff, stuff, and stuff until it's too full to stuff anymore! Not the best plan, but it's soooo hard to wait for little plants to grow up!
DeleteEverything at your place is really coming alive and looking lovely. I am always anxious for my Crabapple to bloom. It's one of the most beautiful sights.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
I love when the crabapple blooms, too. If they didn't sucker so badly, I would plant many, many more!
DeleteGood morning and Happy Easter. Your sure are tuned in to your garden!! What an wonderful place to sit and relax! You are so right about being patient. Patience is such a must for gardeners because without it we would go crazy! Thank you for sharing this amazing spot in your garden!
ReplyDeleteI always envisioned this place as a nice area to sit and relax. But it has taken many years to get there! However, I see that I may be spending a lot more time in this area from now on!
DeleteIt's such a great feeling to see the hard work you do look so beautiful. Love the color!
ReplyDeletePink is my favorite flower color, even though I have more bright colors in most areas in my garden. But these sweet pink blooms in the spring before the sun becomes so harsh show up well.
DeleteYour boxwoods do indeed look lovely and set off the flowers nicely. I am getting impatient about spring. It went down to below freezing again the night before last and froze some more plants. Happy Easter.
ReplyDeleteIt froze a couple of nights in a row last week here, too. :( My roses are not happy, and I try to ignore all the new growth that got damaged. I surely hope spring has finally arrived, and that the last cold front has finally moved through. Happy Easter to you, Carolyn!
DeleteYes, it is often those "background" plants that make all the difference. Your boxwood hedge looks terrific, especially with those beautiful garden ornaments.
ReplyDeleteYou're right - so many times, the background plants make a world of difference, and they are usually ignored by a us looking at a bright bloom!
DeleteI love those aha moments when suddenly a garden space you've looked at for year looks just right. It's a delight when that happens!
ReplyDeleteNot often when that happens, but it is delightful when it does!
DeleteYour problem corner bed looks really nice with the pink coloured floweres and the boxwood. Fun that your husband had already noticed. You see what patience can do, but her in Europe we have to be veeeeerrrrryyyyy patient. My bulbs and other early flowers were never so late before.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
It has been a very tiring year so far. I hope the weather cooperates a bit more for summer and autumn!
DeleteSo stunning!! You are so right about patience. It is a keyword for me as I wait for things to grow. I can't wait for the day when my boxwoods come together Your garden looks so calming and lush! Have a wonderful day friend and thanks for your advice on my workroom....I think ikea is the answer!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your workroom! It will be wonderful when you're finished. Her new space is fabulous - and after we got the hang of it, putting the furniture together wasn't all *that* bad!
DeleteLovely view of Patience! It is wonderful when the beds grow into maturity finally...mine have a long time to go.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of this bed has a long way to go, too. Sigh... I keep thinking in 15 years, the garden will look grand - if I'm through putting in new beds by then! ;)
DeleteIt is always nice for things to finally work out, the stars to align, and almost perfection attained. Sadly, I am far from that stage yet, but seeing yours will (I'll keep my fingers crossed) help me be patient! Happy Easter
ReplyDeleteI think you're right that most of us think the stars have to align just right for our gardens to finally come together the way we visualize them! This bed still has a way to go - but the boxwoods are a good first step.
DeleteYou should feel very satisfied. You're right, patience is a key virtue and skill for gardeners, one that I find very hard to practice.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, that lesson is the one that is given more than most any other, I think. Or perhaps it's the one I need to learn the most, because it seems to always be the lesson of the day!
DeleteHi, I know how wonderful it is when we can be 'happy' with a specific flowerbed in our yard... BUT-you are right. It does take patience for sure!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the boxwoods. We don't have any here --but I grew up with them in my childhood yard...
Hugs,
Betsy
Oh, I just love boxwoods! I have them in almost every area of my garden, and if I could afford to, I would have them lining every bed!
DeleteNow that they are getting new growth, snip off pieces and put them where you want them to grow. Not all will root, but there's always 'later' to put in more. When I prune, I always stick a few in the ground.
DeleteI love the plants with that nice brick backdrop. So elegant.
ReplyDeleteHey, I just checked Texas radar. Are you getting some much needed rain right now?
Happy Easter!
David/:-)
Yes! Wahoo! It passed through fairly quickly, but we got over .7 inches! Hallelujah!
DeleteHow fantastic, I am waiting for that moment in my garden. I think we are so used to quick fixes when we decorate etc that we forget we have to wait for plants etc to grow to achieve the look we are trying to achieve
ReplyDeleteIt can be very trying to wait for a garden to grow up. Every time I put in a new plant, I think about how long it will take for it to mature. It can be discouraging, but when that time has elapsed (and it goes faster than one can imagine!), oh, what joy!
DeleteLovely Holley! Patience is a wonderful virtue and the rewards reaped from it is a wonder feeling. A very elegant part of your garden!
ReplyDeleteYes, patience is often rewarded. It's just the process of going through the waiting that seems so hard!
DeleteThis bed really looks great, and I am glad it pleases you too. I love all shades of pink together. Cyclamen are perennial here too, and they naturalize...
ReplyDeleteI have some hardy cyclamen in this bed, too. I wasn't sure if they would do well, but with the cooler weather we've had this spring, they are looking quite beautiful! I hope they spread some!
DeleteIt's that time of year when we've forgotten just how glorious gardens are when warm weather arrives.
ReplyDeleteAs much as we look forward to it, it does take us by surprise, doesn't it? I guess we just can't imagine such beauty coming out of something that looks so dead!
DeleteI had to laugh that your husband noticing a difference was the clincher for you. Reminds me of my own spouse who never notices the changes I make to our yard without me leading him by the nose to see what I've done.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was surprising! It made me feel that this bed was quite a success if he noticed it, too! :)
DeleteHappy Easter! How cool that not only you but also your husband noticed the magic! Lord give me patence and give it to me NOW!
ReplyDeletehaha - Yes! Like I want spring to come NOW - and if not now, a few months back! :)
DeleteGardens look so fresh and new in Spring. All is awaking and always a surprise. Maturing gardens take time, but always reward. The corner bed is looking nice.
ReplyDeleteI do love spring, with all the new blooms. It is so wonderful to walk outside and see a bit of bright color!
DeleteLove the boxwood hedge coming to maturity - I know it takes time bus so worth it!! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThese took longer than usual since they are in full shade. (And I pruned them incorrectly one year - oops!) It's so nice to see them finally come together the way I wanted them from day 1.
DeleteHolley, I am waiting for my Yew hedge to have this effect on me.
ReplyDeleteIt will be glorious, Alistair! I love yews, but unfortunately, it's too hot for them here. A yew hedge would be well worth waiting for.
DeleteI love how you said you had felt it. That is the truth isn't it? We just feel it in our bones when it all comes together. I can't say enough nice things about Carefree Beauty rose. It will bloom and bloom. Congrats on your changes.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteI love Carefree Beauty, too. She's always one of the first to bloom for me. I'm so glad she's planted here in this bed!
DeleteGardening teaches us patience, for sure! And you are right - that virtue is a good thing to have in all areas of life!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Holley, congratulation to your boxwood hedge, which finally filled in. It looks great! You are so right, there is nothing that beats a mature garden and for a garden to get into that state it really takes time. I am curious, how long are you gardening in you place?
ReplyDeleteChristina
Christina, the years go by so fast! I think I put this bed in in 2006 or 2007. Prior to that, I had a different design for a couple of years that I absolutely hated. Pulled it all up and started again from scratch. The walking bed was planted in 2008, and almost every year I've put in a different bed. Of course, none of them are finished! It sounds like a long time, but it doesn't feel that way!
DeleteMagic has come to stay in your garden, Holley. It is beautiful. I am often pleasantly surprised when a spot has flourished into something lovely.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised, and I agree - it seemed like magic! :)
DeleteOh yes, I see what you mean, Holley. We take evergreens for granted, but they often form the bones of the garden, don't they? Congratulations--it looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI have changed this area around so much, it would be quite sad without the boxwoods. I'm so pleased that they are finally forming the frame I envisioned. Now if only the rest of the plants would grow! Of course, I need to quit changing it for that to happen!
DeleteHow lovely to have that feeling and even better for it to be reciprocated by someone who may be a little more objective. It is hard to visualise what parts of our gardens will look like when they are mature, but it seems as if you are half way there in this corner bed - well done! By the way, the rose in your header is amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to visualize what our gardens will look like when they are mature. Especially for me, as I keep changing them! So glad I didn't change the boxwoods here!
DeleteYour corner garden is lovely! Patience is certainly essential. How does the expression go? I need patience NOW! :) It's encouraging when it's rewarded, isn't it? Congratulations and thank you for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit discouraging to know that you may have to wait 5, 10, or even 15 years to see some newly planted plant at its peak. But, the journey in gardening is the most important part!
DeleteI know exactly what you mean! I grew some dwarf lavender from seed to use as a hedge in my potager and a couple of other beds. This autumn, finally I trimmed it into shape (more or less, it could still use another year's growth to fill all the gaps), and every time I look at it it thrills me. Yes! Yes to tiny hedges in the garden!
ReplyDeleteA lavender hedge sounds so beautiful, colorful, fragrant, and romantic! What a fabulous idea - and I'm so glad it's filling in quickly for you!
DeleteWhat a lovely post, and a timely reminder that patience is a key part of life as a gardener! Something I really must remember as I start over in a new place.
ReplyDelete