Beautiful plants, tucked into earth with love, is our family’s favourite pleasure for spring weekends. Bring out the toys to help, too! This week, we are taking advantage of the pre-bug moment and doing up the gardens here at Rose Cottage. The snow melts a little more each day, with rain and snow flurrying over everything each night. Spring always feels soft and patient to me, and then it lends this gift to us. Doing what you love feels good, so we do it often. I wake up writing stories, and tuck in bed after painting the illustrations. Many many many…..new books are on their way, dear world. What do you love today?
Cloudy days are our favourite time to explore neighbouring towns in search of green treasures and fun new spots to revisit. We have been renovating and building houses for the past decade, so it’s refreshing to have a day off. Today, we found a lovely family-run nursery and farm where a very affordable juniper greeted us at the door of one of several massive greenhouses. We found a cute craft shop where people can learn how to felt and embroider. There were some ‘out to lunch’ signs so we’ll have to return to roam the bookshop. Some lovely women told us about fun annual holiday events…and we’re marking them down in our family calendar. Maine is not an easy place to find town things we like to do, so we really appreciate their time and sharing.
We support family/small businesses as we have one and know how much depends on every sale. Support your local talent and efforts whenever available. Today, I remembered the days of watering plants at a farm when I was a teenager. I baked pies and hauled in corn. The owners took everything seriously, as do I with my Amor Milagre. You have to. You want to. It just makes sense. Support creative ideas that help the world bloom, laugh, and heal.
The front view is not the only one to consider. This line of evergreens is beautiful to gaze upon as we do laundry from the side of the house. Explore every windowscape and make the most of them. We love waking up to flowers, leaves, doves, and robins. I do space these low plants away from the windows so birds don’t become too exuberant at nap/bed times. We removed huge overgrown dead shrubs and trees from every side of our Rose Cottage years ago, and now we add in green structures each year to build it up. Remember, right plant right place to grow well.
Planting in layers, repeating patterns of odd numbers, and varying the greens creates a lush effect over time. They even look so sweet now. Leave proper spacing for your purpose and plant type. Bulbs look even more elegant when surrounded by green friends. Leave leaves alone. Allow the wind to stir and blow your leaves about quietly. They become soil and nutrients that block unwanted plants.
By slightly layering the evergreens, the result is a spaced out line with room to grow. This gives the plant its own air to thrive in while providing a privacy screen from the road and house. This used to be just a lawn. We planted hundreds of plants to replace most of our grass, added pathways, reduced the need for mowing, increased our pollinator count massively, and provided homes for wildlife. We use a push or electric mower for the bit of lawn left, only necessary once or twice a year. Thyme beds are low and self-sufficient. Neighbourhoods can be quiet enough to enjoy bird songs. Choices matter and can make a huge positive difference for everyone’s peace and health. Plant for pollinators. Shall we all have a beautiful year?
Periwinkle alba and creeping thyme is our garden floor. It took a few years to grow the carpet, but the bees love it! This replaces lawn and prevents other plants from taking over. The flowers are gorgeous! We only plant perennials as we’re into building up our natural investments. Save your seeds and spread them!
We hope to find some healthy, affordable Italian cypress and green giant thujas to layer in as a privacy screen near our fence. More garden updates soon!
Ah, yes…thank you rain for watering in our baby plants…
Happy Spring Gardening, Love ~ Amor Milagre
