SUCCESSES AND FAILURES
The growing season is coming full circle. As I cut back the browning daylily and iris foliage, patches of bare earth emerge, and the garden begins to look more like it does in the early spring. The slow-moving stages of clean-up give me ample opportunity to think about this year’s garden. As always, some developments were caused by weather, others by the actions or inaction of the gardener, and still others defy explanation. The following are a few of the most notable successes and failures.
Hydrangeas: This was a banner year for hydrangeas. The absence of late spring frosts meant that the abundant flower buds survived to turn into bellowing flowerheads. The hydrangeas in my yard are overflowing their allotted spaces and need a bit of pruning in the next few weeks. One has become rambunctious, attempting to smother a long-suffering caryopteris, which I will soon move to a less crowded location.
Hostas: In the past I have bragged about the absence of slugs in my garden, certain that such a situation meant that I was a superb gardener and one of the elect of God. Now I know the meaning of the proverb “pride goes before a fall.” Despite an abundance of birds and other predators, the slugs came in droves. They feasted on everything, from the big, blue-leafed Hosta sieboldia ‘Elegans’ to the little mouse-eared hostas. For some reason the hostas in the front yard fared better than those in the back. Maybe the slugs in the back were more muscular. Sadly I didn’t have the time to put out traps, so I had to chalk the slug damage up to experience. The bright spots in the picture were the Hosta plantaginea or August lilies. They are reputed to be less palatable to slugs and that’s certainly proved true in my garden.
Roses: The slugs must have eaten the Japanese beetles, because there were many fewer than in years past. Normally in July Japanese beetles stage regular orgies amid the rose petals and I can dispatch four or five at a time in a container of soapy water. This year the orgies were either much more discreet or smaller and less frequent. I hope that adds up to fewer slugs next year.
Clematis: The clematis had a lack-luster year, with several producing fewer than the normal number of flowers. I assume this happened because I neglected to do the usual mulching. Clematis are like teenage girls–their needs are very specific. If you want to achieve optimal clematis conditions, you must follow another time honored maxim: “feet in the shade and head in the sun.” Mulching is essential. In contrast to the sulky large-flowered clematis, the Clematis terniflora or sweet autumn clematis surged ahead. Vigorous to the point of thuggishness, it is impervious to mechanical or chemical assaults and goes merrily on its way no matter what happens. From my point of view the best thing about sweet autumn clematis is the fragrance, which is exceptionally sweet and more than makes up for the eighteen self-sown specimens that came up in my lawn.
Miniature Iris: Last fall I bought a large number of miniature iris–Iris reticulata and Iris danfordiae–for my early spring display. Inspired by descriptions in Beverley Nichols’ Garden Open Today, I planted groups of them under trees and in corners of the garden. They were lovely and a great inspiration in April. Unlike Nichols, I did not dig up entire clumps and display them indoors. I did make a modest bouquet and displayed it in a small egg cup. Considering the tiny cost of the bulbs, the little iris were an excellent investment. I’ve ordered more for this year.
Fruits and Vegetables: The blueberry bush produced a bumper crop, though a bumper crop from one dwarf bush is only about two cups. The blackberries were bountiful in about the same amount. I put the two harvests together and made a lovely fruit crisp. Growing lettuce in a large pot yielded some nice small heads, but not nearly enough, so next year I will rabbit-proof a bed and grow them in the ground. I love pesto sauce, and my basil harvest enabled me to make it several times. One of my little strawberry beds fell victim to an errant soccer ball (and its vigorous owners), but the other produced a handful of berries. Since this was the first year for strawberries, I’ll expect better things next spring. Each of the plants has sent out healthy runners.
For some reason there were fewer butterflies this year and fewer pulmonaria because the groundhog took a liking to them. The garden is not the showpiece that it was last year at this time when we hosted a wedding reception and a garden tour, but I am working to get things shaped up once more. Fortunately, the garden is endlessly forgiving. I am hoping for a few more glorious weeks of blooms before the frosts set in.