Some people count sheep.


Some listen to soft soothing music. 


Others drink warm milk.


Me … I analyze an open spot in the garden and determine what I will plant there when I wake up the next day.

I often have a hard time falling asleep at night. And it is completely self induced. In fact, I enjoy the inability to sleep, it is truly a chance to let the brain run it’s course while everyone else is out cold. And here’s the kicker, I drink a half pot of caffeinated coffee every night after the kids are asleep. You say “dumb”, I say “this is where my genius is born”.    

Last night was no exception. Here is what I obsessed over while the rest of the world slept:

As you can see in the photos above, I have an open spot behind the Siberian iris, the carex and the dwarf variegated miscanthus. And here is a snapshot of the thoughts that ran through my over-caffeinated cranium:

• Like the amateur designer that you are, why do you have three similarly shaped plants together in the same spot?
• Should I move them now? Or leave until Spring?
• If they stay, you need something evergreen in that spot.
• And something deer resistant.
• And able to handle wet feet at times since the water drains off of the driveway.
• Nothing fits any of that criteria and you’re dumb to stress over it.
• Can’t you make better use of this time to analyze something important?

And if that weren’t enough, here is another site that was ripe for more of my over analysis:

And more rambling sleep deprived thoughts:

• An open prominent spot right next to the garage needs some serious attention.
• Having a single holly, a single arborvitae, a single clethra and a single barberry all together; I’m thinking they do not teach that to wanna be designers.
• With self deprecation now complete, you know you need a massed perennial in that spot, preferably something upright to off set the rounded shape of the nearby shrubs.
• Maybe I can divide more of the Siberian irises … no too late in the season for that.
• Maybe some of my beloved smaller ornamental grasses … nah … need some full season floral interest there.
• Maybe some daylilies … nope … the deer will dine on them.
• Here we go again dumb ass … you’ve created a quandary with no easy solution.
• Can my wife hear me? Am I talking out loud? Am I really this neurotic?

Needless to say, nothing has been resolved even after a long period of analysis. Guess there is always tonight to revisit it again.

Good times indeed!
ONG