Bloom Where You’re Planted

I am not a green thumb by a long shot, nor will I ever be, but my gardening self-image improved substantially when I discovered the joy of perennials. (I hear some of your saying, “Duh!” But really, I didn’t know.)

I’ve always loved the randomness of English gardens, and now that I’ve welcomed perennials, I have my own version. Some of my seeds/plants came from my middle daughter, who has a green thumb she inherited from her paternal grandmother. Some were freebies from a neighbour who was trimming up her gorgeous yard.

My flower gardens will never make “Better Homes & Gardnes,” but they make me happy. After many years of failed flowerbeds and embarrassment in my “everybody gardens” neighbourhood, I can finally look out my windows and enjoy color and variety, with low maintenance.

The best thing about perennials is that you’re never quite sure what will come up. My box garden in front of my kitchen window is different every year. This year, the violas took over in joyful disarray.

I had to stick in a few red and yellow portulacas to add variety to the purples and yellows.

My favorites, the Maltese Cross (they are July bloomers, as am I, so I call them my birthday flowers, and I love red) are prolific this year, to the point of overwhelming one of my pretty purple and white lilies. I may have to do some transplanting before next spring.

I’m always amazed at how something comes from nothing.

We have long winters and short summers here on the Canadian prairies, so se perennials hurry to sprout up and bloom as long as the weather allows.

Lesson to learn: use my time wisely and bloom where I’m planted. We never know the joy we can bring to others just by being ourselves.