Quite a bit of the garden has lived through one-arm gardening this year. Generally, this means that I haven’t done my thorough spring weed clearance, and so the early weeds have regained some territory. But I should not despair.
Reading Thomas Rainer‘s approach to gardening sustainably, I have found some solace. He suggests that the garden can be seen as a meeting point between plants that we insert as gardeners and the natural response of the terrain to the conditions of life. Most terrain is populated by plants already when we garden- and we are removing the plants that are linked to that terrain and eco-system, replacing them with others that may not.
I am cutting to the chase here as Rainer uses science and botany to develop these themes. So, in my case, the early spring growing and covering of the ground with annual plants/weeds that I did not plant is part of the ecological balance of the ground I work. Rainer, I think, would argue that the essence of modern sustainable gardening is the point of equilibrium we can create as we balance the insertion of the plants we want with the plants that already exist there. He would probably also be able to demonstrate that the plants I remove have an ecological function for the terrain, retaining humidity and microbiological balance. He is looking for a more fluid and sensitive approach to gardening which works with nature rather than being in battle with it.
Take the New Garden in the photograph above. A month or so ago, I felt that it had really run away with me irretrievably. All the usual suspects were back and in action, and my new plantings from last year were overwhelmed. But, now, the balance has changed. My plants, the Achillea millefolium in particular, have surged into growth and the annual suspects are dying back. It would still look a bit messy close-up to the Percy Thrower gardener (British TV gardener of the sixties much loved as a suburban gardening hero)- but I am wondering whether ripping out the usual suspects in Spring may not actually be damaging the resilience of this dry, hot area.
The puritan work ethic in me wonders whether I am just developing a serious case of post one-armed gardening laziness. But I am dismissing this thought, and going with Rainer. I think that the dying suspects will end up mulching the ground around/between the plants, and once the heat is up (soon) nothing new will insert itself in there. I will let you know.
I grew some Verbascum nigrum from seed a couple of years ago, and they are still giving. I adore the up-close exoticism of the cerise and orange stamens, and the stateliness of the bearing. The flowerheads last for at least a month, slowly opening bottom to top. I also have some white ones, which have popped up in another part of the garden. What a pay-back.
Another surprise returner this year has been Centaurea, popping up to give little hits of colour as if I had sprinkled them there myself. I grew Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’ last year which is a gorgeous deep maroon, almost black. I have quite a few returnees of ‘Black Ball’ and, also some of the regular blue have appeared. A sort of seed reversion I guess, but I don’t mind.
Ali, the Mindful Gardener, thank you Ali, recommended this great plant to me last year, and so I bought seed. Erodium manescavii came through easily, and is just beginning to flower. At first, it doesn’t over-inspire, but now that the plants have settled in and are filling out the space, I can see that it will be a good choice. Tufty, divided leaves spread out from a crown, and the flowers shoot up, a little hardy geranium-like, but a good size. I don’t have it in the driest spot, but it is fairly dry all the same, so I will report back as the summer develops.
Early morning sun can be wonderful. Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’– thank you Karen from Marsac, made a lovely crown for Rosa ‘LD Braithwaite’ the other morning. The Pennisetum is easy, fuss-free, and does well in a sunny, well-drained spot. Rosa ‘LD Braithwaite’ is getting better and better by the year, our stony soil takes a while to allow newcomers in- I just need to deadhead more often.
Good that I am almost back to two-armed gardening.
jardinecofriendly 
What a great article and I am absolutely with Mr Rainer. I agree with the idea of working with rather battling against nature and this is what I strive to do. Our garden is now in its fifteenth year and I firmly believe that we have reached a harmony. There are more bees, bumble bees, hawk moths than I’ve ever seen. We have hedgehogs and this year I have seen very little slug damage.
So yes, work with nature; share your space with some wildflowers and adopt a more relaxed approach and the natural world with flourish
LikeLiked by 1 person
Considering my “approach” this Spring to my own garden, I absolutely agree with the idea of working my plants in between what is existent already- cottage style? The birds are loving the extra places to find bugs and cover
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think that is the way forward…maintaining the ecology will support the microbiology…it’s a different aesthetic from good old Percy Thrower! Thanks for following!
LikeLike
Thanks Adrienne!
LikeLike
My favorite place to garden was in town, in the flat area of the Santa Clara Valley. The homes I lived in there were on very flat and square parcels, where nothing natural remained. The soil and the climate were excellent, and I could grow anything I wanted! The Santa Cruz Mountains above are prettier to most, but the soil and climate are not quite as ideal for gardening, and gardening must be done around the terrain and massive redwoods that are too big to cut down easily. In a way, it was more relaxed. Both types of gardening had their appeal.
LikeLike