I was just out in the frigid cold with the dog and looking around the gardens while she did her thing, thinking about spring and where new plants could fit in. I was reflecting a bit on the journey the garden has taken me on the last few years, and how my gardening practices have changed, lessons I've learned.
Roses had always been a major design element in my garden, until about 7 years ago, when I discovered my first case of Rose Rosette virus, which eventually took about half of my Roses. As I was watching the roses picked off one by one, I was also seeing the same with another beloved flower, Lilies. I had gotten some bulbs infected with Lily Mosaic Virus from a co op of Holland bulbs. I was already having a depressing time personally, so the garden typically being a source of uplift, also became rather depressing. I think that had a lot to do with my practically abandoning the garden for a couple of years.
In the time since, of reclaiming the gardens, and now moving forward with plans I'd already had in place, I'm now at a much more peaceful place with it. While reclaiming the gardens, I was so inspired by all the survivors, so many tenacious and beautiful plants that still bloomed their hearts out among the weeds. I gradually was able to shift my thoughts about what I missed, to thoughts about what was still out there.
In the time since, I have remained diligent in removing diseased plants, and have focused my attention on species that had continued to thrive, and on plants I hadn't been growing. It has been over a year since any more Roses have shown symptoms, and only a couple of Lilies have had to be removed. While I am again bringing some new Roses to the garden, I will be careful not to rely so heavily on them for my overall design. I don't want to rely on just a few species to keep the garden colorful. The process of dealing with big losses has made me a better gardener, with expanded awareness.
While I'm sure I'll always end up collecting quite a few of any beloved plant species, I have come to the conclusion that keeping the garden diverse, with a broad spectrum of plant species, has resulted in a healthier garden overall. It lessens the chance of a pathogen wreaking such havoc on the entire aesthetic of the garden. No matter how old I get, the garden just keeps teaching me, keeping me on my toes...and keeping me young I suppose
How has your gardening changed over the years? How have your attitudes changed in your journey in the garden?
