Keeping it simple today with photos and some quick comments.

Enjoy. 

Enjoy your weekend!
ONG

You know that feeling.

You just need to have something and will go to any lengths to get it. You cannot get it out of your head no matter how hard you try. Once you get it, all is right with the world; for that moment at least.

That is a misplaced plant for me. It eats at me. I see it while walking the dog or playing with the kids. It makes me doubt myself as a so called gardening enthusiast. It keeps me up at night and it creeps into my dreams. I ain’t kidding either. Many decisions have been made based on a vision I’ve had while semi conscious.

Well, I got my fix early this morning and can say I am safely satiated for the moment. Here is the culprit:

That slow to mature, evil Holly ‘Chesapeake’ in the center along the back of the bed. It does nothing for that space and I’ve been stressing about moving it for a few weeks now. So, today was the day:

Don’t let the door …

What went in it’s place you ask? Well … see for yourself below:

It is a Physocarpus (Ninebark) ‘Diablo’. And before you can say, “that will outgrow that spot dummy”, I will hit you back with a “know it won’t YOU dummy. I’ll prune this down heavily each year to limit the growth. And  I don’t really care about the flowers since it is the foliage that floats my boat”.    

But there was more transplanting to be done. I also didn’t like how the Northern Sea Oats were grouped together in front of the Ninebark:

And with the magic touch of a spade, we changed to this:

Minimal difference, yes, but it fed my addiction like feng shui in the veins.      

Now I am not your parent’s transplanter. I throw caution to the wind, like doing this on a hot, humid and sunny day (all no no’s), but I never forget the most important thing of all:

Nice slow drips of water right at the roots.

One other benefit of my over indulging in moving plants is finding these all the time:

So all in all I am happy with what was completed this morning and especially like the contrast the Ninebark offers to the surrounding plants, specifically the Hydrangea nearby:

And as for that creepy little Holly, last I saw of him, he was all laid up, roots exposed and left for dead, will have to let you know how that worked out;

I returned last night from a three day business trip to Utica, New York and let me tell you, driving alone four hours each way gives you a lot of time to think.
 

A few years ago, on the same trip, I had written a screenplay, in my head, for a movie that had no audio so the audience had to interpret what really went down. I’m sure it has been done already, but if not, I still think it could be done in the hands of the right director.

Any hoo, this trip it was all about the blog, naturally, since it is my only real creative outlet. I tried to come up with original topics or a way to present common topics in a unique and comical way. I also couldn’t get a comment that my brother-in-law made, out of my head.  He described my blog to my wife’s elderly grandmother as “pornographic photos of plants”. I laughed when I heard the comment and also realized, the dude is dead on. Like this “money shot”:

My first thought was “do readers want the money shot with little plot, or do they prefer some plot so there is more payoff once the money shot is revealed.” Sorry, I did just go there.

I’ve since learned that my photos tend to lean “macro”. Close-up photos that reveal details which cannot be seen with the naked eye. These can be very cool and “artsy” but using too many can be a bit much. Plus, and most importantly, the best photos pull in all of the pieces of the garden so you can view the interplay of all the plants.

So, with that thought in mind, and nothing but time to over analyze while driving through the Catskills, here are the ideas I came up with:

• It’s about time to do a video walk around the yard chock full of  my inane comments.
• More before and after posts, even if I’ve only moved one plant, and as you know, I transplant with the best of them.
• Get down and technical and photograph it in gory detail. Like when I divide my Irises in the near future.
• Have some of my friends/family send in “please help me” videos of their yards so I can then mock them, laugh and eventually provide valuable feedback. Plus, they’ll believe anything I tell them.

And the one I am most excited and nervous about. I have registered to attend the Garden Writer’s Association Annual Symposium in Dallas, Texas. Truth is, I don’t belong there. It is a collection of the biggest and best in the business covering all topics associated with garden writing and all other forms of media. It also includes tours of some phenomenal gardens in the city. Normally, I’d say “no chance”, but they have a mentor program for first time attendees and dammit, it is time to step out of the comfort zone.

My plan is to blog daily during the conference in “dear diary” fashion, including my own insecurities and “what am I doing here moments?” Should be good stuff.

That is all for today. Will be heading to my 20th High School Reunion this weekend which will definitely lend itself to fantastic blog fodder.

Oh yeah, one last thing. Like the new layout? Autumn too early? Let me know. 

Ciao                                   

I’ve since learned that up close photos of blooms