A lot of times when I look at my garden I just see more work that needs to be done. There are always more weeds, plants to be pruned, seeds to be collected. It is an endless project of tinkering.
Unlike most pieces of art that have a period for creation and then it is complete, the landscape is an artwork that is never finished. While I’m adding a little red over here with a fire pink, the white of mountain mint is taking over the background. Sometimes a tree falls and I have a new stump to decorate but also a patch of sun causing the shade plants to scorch. Button bushes grow sideways so the path needs to move. Then everything looks great until the cone flowers get a virus. Whenever I think I have a vision of my final artwork I soon realize that I’m wrong because these are living ecosystems. Ecosystems change constantly and this should be celebrated as a sign of success.
Perhaps it is an artwork of three artists, the gardener, nature, and time, a collaborative project. Don’t be ashamed of this unfinished masterpiece or wait until it looks better to show it off. Let the peace of this sanctuary fill us with joy and excitement. Let us all ignore the never ending chores for a moment. There is no better time then this moment because the garden will never look like this again.
It’s interesting looking into the eyes of visitors who are new to my garden as they round the corner of my house. I see emotions of feeling overwhelmed, in awe, afraid, amazed, envious, and inspired. My garden is a lot to take in at once. It is my space to play and experiment so I have a variety of bed types with a multitude of species mixed together. Trees and shrubs dot the yard as well as logs, rocks, benches, etc. There is a lot going on with many layers of detail to focus on. It is not a zen garden or even a particularly well designed landscape. It is everything all together in the small space I have available. This may not be a traditional style of gardening but it is exciting. I hope that my visitors can survive the initial shock and relax enough to enjoy the experience.
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