TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Be Selective About Showing Your Garden

ADVERTISEMENT

By MONICA BRANDIES Tribune correspondent

Published: September 19, 2007

Updated: 09/17/2007 09:44 pm

I learned the hard way. Now I don't show anyone my garden unless they ask. True, they can hardly help but notice as they walk to the door or gather outside for a photo. But some people manage not to see it at all.

One of my favorite friends, who was 92, admired my garden from the back porch, and I made the mistake of offering to walk her through it.

She was too polite to refuse, and I took her through on the shortest, quickest route. But she became short of breath, and I was afraid she wouldn't make it. Now, when I expect visitors who might have the same trouble, I do not show them the garden unless they beg to see it.

Then, I place some chairs around so they can take it in small sections.

We have had visitors who stayed a week and never ventured into the garden.

Some people are not gardeners.

One of my daughters, who seemed to be interested, accompanied me to an interview once when she was visiting. She, too, complained of being short of breath and went to the car to wait for me.

I don't think my father has ever purposely walked through my garden.

My mother always had to check things out, but she tried to pull every weed she saw, and it was hard on her. She and I visited the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia together once. No weeds there.

The last person you should lure into the garden if she or he is the least bit reluctant is your spouse.

My husband is a not-gardener, partly because when he tried to help in the early days, I cried when he cut down my baby trees and weeded out my mums. But he is encouraging, especially when the garden comes to the table. He sometimes brings in a small bouquet or calls me to be sure I noticed something special - usually out the window. He often has suggestions that I find helpful as well.

Others have asked for a garden tour upon their arrival, and I couldn't keep them out of it. I suspect some of my daughters have prompted their boyfriends to ask, just to get on my good side. One young man seemed truly interested. But the daughter involved, who had been living at home for several months, was surprised at some of the things he admired, including plants in the front yard she had passed many a time without noticing.

The incident that finally taught me not to show just anyone my garden was when a priest friend came for dinner. Our children were being rather obnoxious, and I thought to relieve him of this particular scene of family life I would invite him to walk in my garden. I had forgotten it was dusk and the worst time for mosquitoes, especially because it was summer. The cloud of them that usually headed for me descended upon him instead, and we couldn't walk fast enough while he swatted for his life. He gently asked me, 'And the neighbors never complain about all this?'

He asked three times!

Anyone who wants to see my garden need only ask ... fervently.

When I have a garden open house (Nov. 10 and 17) I have chairs all about, some at the entrance for anyone who has come reluctantly and doesn't want to go any farther. It's OK. I understand.

Today's Pick

At least five species of viburnum thrive in Florida, but V. obovatum, also called Black Haw or Walter's viburnum, is the only one native to the area. This evergreen shrub grows as tall as 20 feet with dense, shrubby branches that birds like for nesting and small oval leaves with round tips and smooth edges. They are glossy dark green on top, and pale green and spotted on the underside. They bloom in early spring - March in this area - with flat-topped clusters of small white flowers. These are followed by small berries ranging from red to black during summer. The berries are a favorite food for birds and small animals, so Walter's Viburnum is a good shrub or small tree for a wildlife habitat.

The plant adapts to a wide range of soils and conditions including wet forests, coastal swamps and sometimes upland sites. It grows in sun or shade and has high drought tolerance, though a low salt tolerance. It may send out suckers and form a thicket if left unpruned over a very long time, but it takes well to pruning to any size or shape and can be started from seed or cuttings. It is excellent for a small hedge or screen. There are various upright and spreading forms available including Mrs. Shiller Delight, Riefler's Densa and Whorled Class.

Now's The Time To ...

•Keep in mind more ways to keep gardening easy.

•Work with nature, not against it. Think about hardiness, soil and native plants.

•Improve soil and spread much mulch.

•Keep tools close; use what is handy.

The next time you have 10 minutes to spare in your garden, stop in the middle of a task. It would be a waste of effort to leave seeds uncovered or a transplant unwatered, but there is no harm in leaving a bush half-pruned, a path half-cleared or a row partly weeded. That way you know right where to start when you get another 10 minutes.

Upcoming Events

The September meeting of the Suncoast Chapter of the Native Plant Society will begin at 7 tonight at the Hillsborough County Extension Office, 5339 County Road 579 in Seffner.

Joe Murphy, coordinator of the Gulf Restoration Network, will speak on 'Amazing Treasures, Daunting Threats' and explore how to protect the Gulf Coast from the negative effects of coastal development and water pollution.

The Tampa African Violet Society will meet at 10 a.m. Friday at the Seminole Garden Center, 5800 Central Ave., in Tampa. The program is 'How To Select African Violet Show Plants,' by award-winning judge and grower Nancy Kast. Visitors are welcome. Call Dottie Cesario, president, at (813) 989-2934 for information.

Monica Brandies can be reached at monicabrandies@yahoo.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT