Rainy Afternoon in the Garden
It’s been two days since my last stroll around the garden—the longest I’ve gone without checking in on it in three months! I slip on some strappy sandals, the rain is already drizzling on my short walk over. After several 95ºF+ days, this rain is much appreciated, and I’m determined to visit regardless.
These are the days when everything is new. The visits of June and July are filled with new buds, ripening fruits, freshly opened petals, vegetables that you swear grew several inches overnight. Two days and you miss a lot.
The skies are opening up now, but who could leave a flush of Lady Gardener roses this beautiful? Or when the first Wollerton Old Hall roses are blooming?
Truth be told, I sowed the snapdragons as an afterthought in late winter. They are one of the earliest flowers that you can sow because they germinate so slowly, so I could not resist chucking a few into some seed trays. I look for any excuse to see some green in the doldrums of winter. Last year’s flowers were a bit of a disappointment, but this year’s took me by complete surprise. They are beautiful spires of white, frilly petals. Sunnier growing conditions and they are a whole new flower. Next year I will sow more. I love where they are positioned alongside the entrance to the mini cottage garden. The blooms greet you as you enter.
The first cosmos (Purity) and the first poppy (Amazing Grey) are blooming. The poppies are all direct sown and I mix a bunch together. Each one is a surprise.
Cucumber growth astounds me every time. I could have sworn this one was the size of the baby in the upper left corner of the photo a few days ago. You blink, and the next thing you know they’re ready for harvesting. This year I’m growing only one variety, Marketmore 76. It’s a new-to-me variety, and I’m looking forward to eating them fresh in salads and also preserving a few as pickles.
My hair is soaked with rain. I can feel the water droplets sliding down my arms, but it feels nice! Gardens are healing. I’m sure any neighbors who catch a glimpse of me out of their windows probably think I’m a bit nuts, but the garden never looks better than when it’s raining. Everything is so lush. The salvia Caradonna that I deadheaded a couple weeks ago are already budding back to life. The bees can’t wait—it’s their favorite plant in my garden. My Bobo hydrangea (a dwarf variety) is on the verge of bursting into bloom. The tiny flowers with pearl-like centers are so perfect and delicate, they almost look fake. It’s so satisfying to start getting glimpses into how all the plants work together in a symphony of texture, color, and size.
The addition of what I like to call my “Mini Cottage Garden” this year was the right one. I love the more wild feel. It’s in a constant state of evolution, addition, and editing, and I love the process of considering it from many angles—combining plants to create vignettes and little moments throughout.
This year, I wanted to focus more specifically on purposeful succession planting in the garden. When one thing is done, I want something else to take its place. A cycle of bloom, death, and renewal brings constant joy, as well as the thrill of looking forward to something new. I get to enjoy each thing for what it is, and welcome change to come. Each stage of a plant’s life has value. This flowering cilantro may not be the best option for a salsa, but the pollinators sustain themselves on the flowers. Next to it, a dahlia is growing to eventually take its place.