The other night, I dreamed that a squirrel was leaping on my face. I like squirrels as much as the next guy, but they are nefarious creatures and I believe them to be completely capable of such rude and irresponsible behavior. Be assured, I passed each squirrel with great skepticism on our walk today. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
However, I am not here with a think piece about the moral complexities of squirrel behavior.* I am here to tell you: I Am In The Garden! Yes, that’s right. The Garden, Our Garden, My Garden.
It’s presently cool outside;
on Wednesday, it became fall.
A year and a half ago, we bought our first house, and with it, our first non-balcony garden. The yard, as we inherited it, was simple and quiet: grub-eaten kentucky bluegrass, a few inopportunely located boxelder maple volunteers, day-lilies tenderly encircled by stones, ostrich ferns, a few hostas, a riotous grapevine winding up the trees and power lines.
In sifting through the soil we found recent histories and slightly deeper ones. We found creatures, and roots.
In our first summer season (2022), we built raised beds, repaired the deck, removed the boxelder maples, gave away the lilies, repositioned the stones. Planted food, traded compost for black-eyed susans, went to the plant sale at the fairgrounds, made a small butterfly garden next to the house. Found a machete in the front yard, eradicated japanese knotweed, planned.
And, we made ourselves a rule:
We ended our first season after the first snow of winter, by spreading native shortgrass prairie seed mix across the front yard to cold stratify.
We’re now entering that transitional period after the heat of another! summer spent in the garden, and almost everything in the yard is on its way back down to the soil.
We calculated that I planted something like 400–500 plants in the garden this season. Many of those were living things I started from seed under grow lights (my first time)! Here are a few of the things I planted:
(The detailed-oriented among you will notice a few non-native species, namely a bajillion thyme plants. Oh well, rules are made to be broken?)
I’m feeling reflective, but also very aware of how huge a task it is to write about two full years in the garden. So, there is more to come :-)
Briefly, my visual garden inspiration, one important reference book, and another. And let it be known that I am a major Monty Don fan.
What did you grow this year?
P.S. As of writing, there are 22 paid subscribers that have access to this post. 22 people could fit in our house for a real nice party! That feels like such a sweet gift to me; your support makes a real tangible difference in my life, AND I get to hold each one of you in mind as I write. Thanks so much for being here, friends!
Thanks for sharing! Although I have never had a squirrel dream or planted anything that I could eat, I have planted Coleus this year in 4 patio containers. I am so proud of how well they grew this summer. Watering them at the end of the day brings back fond memories of my Dad long ago. That would be his decompression time at the end of the day. Beer in one hand and hose in the other.
I would very much appreciate a piece on squirrel morality. For example, there is a guy who gives squirrels peanuts on his daily walks. This activity gives the man great happiness and the squirrels too. The squirrels then dig holes at the base of all my newest perennials and place their peanuts there. I find them in spring uneaten when I check on the plants. I do not feel great happiness. I am not sure how the plants feel, but surely squirrels should consider the good of more of the community? Thank you.