“I’d somewhat remorse the issues I’ve finished than remorse the issues I haven’t finished.” Lucille Ball stated this in an interview in the course of the peak of her fame within the Nineteen Fifties. Greater than half a century later, the quote got here to thoughts as I used to be strolling round my property, fascinated about my backyard regrets.
I remorse not amending my soil in addition to I ought to.
I remorse not having a panorama plan earlier than placing crops within the floor.
I remorse not having extra conifers.
As we transfer into late fall and early winter, that final one is hitting particularly arduous. Why, oh why, didn’t I plant extra conifers? I could make a laundry record of excuses: conifers are costly; conifers develop slowly; conifers don’t flower. However actually, there’s no good purpose. Since I backyard in New England, the place a lot of the panorama dies again after the primary frost, I ought to have extra conifers so there’s something to have a look at in November, December, January, and February. These evergreens are really spine crops, and when you choose and plant colourful choices like these really helpful by Darren Heimbecker in “Go Past Fundamental Inexperienced with Colourful Conifers” (pp. 64 to 71), they sparkle like treasured gem stones year-round. If a conifer shines as brightly as ‘Pusch’ Norway spruce, who cares if it doesn’t bloom? Its shiny pink cones are higher than any blossom a lowly perennial can produce.
I think about I used to be in an analogous boat to lots of you after I first began my backyard, with huge aspirations however a restricted funds. If I may go to the nursery and buy a dozen fast-filling perennials for the worth of 1 conifer, I used to be going for quantity over substance. Now I remorse that alternative.
Through the years I’ve slowly added extra conifers to my beds and borders. The change has been gradual however extremely rewarding, particularly as I look outdoors proper now and the dwarf blue noble fir alongside my entrance steps is the one factor glowing amid the brown, decaying foliage surrounding it. If I had planted extra conifers 12 years in the past, I don’t suppose I might remorse it immediately (though I may need regretted the decrease stability in my checking account that week). So, shifting ahead, I’ll observe Ms. Ball’s recommendation. I’ll take the journey, eat the cake, and purchase the footwear.
And plant the conifers.
Danielle Sherry, govt editor
Situation #220 of Wonderful Gardening will publish on-line on October fifteenth, 2024
