I love being in a nursery. The colors, the textures, the smell of fresh growing things....it's almost too much. I tend to go into garden overload. I want to buy one of everything just to see what it looks like in my flowerbeds. And then I get to the vegetable section and start planning out a huge garden. I really feel like a kid in a candy store, but I have to restrain myself because I don't have the space, time or budget to do all I want to do. Today as we looked for trees for our friends, I also considered it a scouting mission for my own yard. I took notes and have some ideas of what I want to do this year. The last hard freeze here is usually at the end of March, so April is the perfect month to start planting for the spring and summer months ahead.
As we strolled up and down the many rows of trees, we enlisted help from a knowledgeable store employee. We asked him all kinds of questions about flowering trees that grow well in the hot summer months. How long they bloom, do they need shade, what kind of colors are available, etc. He answered all our questions and really helped us narrow down our selection. Our first choice of tree was the pretty Dogwood with its soft pink blossoms. However, we learned that those trees are heat sensitive, so we had to consider some other choices. We learned that fruit trees are the heartiest variety and can survive our brutally hot summers (last summer we broke a record with 63 days of 100+ temperatures). Cherry trees, peach trees, Plum trees and Crabapples are all very pretty and thrive in the full sun. And Redbuds are always a good choice. They bloom for at least a month and are so delicate and beautiful. In fact, they are our official state tree.
In the end, we left with a clear idea of the type of tree we wanted to plant for our friends. And I left with a long list of gardening ideas.
What are your gardening plans this year?
3 comments:
What a great memorial idea.
I hear you on the temptations of the garden stores. Man alive it is like the ultimate for me. This year I just want to add to the garden and I am also starting a vegetable garden in some raised beds.
What a beautiful idea for a loving memorial!! Such dear friends you all are!
Last year was my first ever real gardening and I had a friend help Velda plant some flowers in flower pots. I plan to do the pots again and maybe add one or two. I really want to do a flower bed but I don't think I am there yet. We would have to create one and we still are settled on what our plans for our front/back yard will be. But I am happy and excited for our flower pots and increasing the amount. It's good practice for Velda and I. I have a dream of having a veggie garden one day...one day.
I have a flat of flowers calling to me from my potting table!! Tomorrow is the day! Michael has to ban me from the nursery...well, at least until I get these planted ;) A very loving memorial to the memory of your friend.
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