I had a meeting with a prospective client yesterday to discuss a design for the front of their home.
When I drove up their driveway one thought came to my mind.
This the most challenging space I will ever design.
I stepped out of my car looked at the landscape and the ideas started to flow. I couldn’t stop them.
How to hide an outlet in the middle of a landscape?Surround the outlet with impatiens and make the flowers a focal point. I get a lot of compliments on the pretty pink flowers, everyone thinks I planted the flowers there because they look pretty, not to hide the outlet.
Luckily, this landscape reminded me that I have a special set of skills.
This garden started as a square foot garden. Then I found this cool wire arch that fit between the beds perfectly. I added a hummingbird feeder and hummingbird-friendly plants. Every morning the hummingbird feeds and rests by wrapping its little feet around the wire of the arch.
After spending my life consciously, and subconsciously, learning plants, analyzing landscape and learning from my work I’m able to solve problems many cannot.
Please don’t mulch trees like this. Please don’t mulch trees like this. Please don’t mulch trees like this. Please don’t mulch trees like this. Please don’t mulch trees like this. Please don’t mulch trees like this. Please don’t mulch trees like this.
The truth of the matter is I don’t expect you to solve landscaping problems if you don’t have the time or the interest. That’s what I’m here for.
The number one tip on how to have a nicer lawn is to mow your lawn higher. A lot higher. A second tip is to make sure you have a sharp blade. These two tips will make a greater difference than any chemicals or irrigation system.
Just as a plumber solves problems with plumbing, a lawyer solves problems with the law and my wife solves the problem of where the Cheddar Cheese Sticks are.
I solve the problem of how to design and maintain your landscape.
Theo, our Great Pyrenees rescue, barks defiantly into the wickedness of the dark night.
Theo after a long night of saving humanity from the likes of Thanos, and rabbits.
Ever vigilant, Theo comes from a long line of guardians, livestock guardians. His breed has been trained for generations to bark at any sign of a threat to the herd. Whether that threat is a pack of wolves, wild dogs, or poachers.
Nightly, ever vigilant, Theo warns of the hazards caused by the cunning and ruthless Cottontail. Theo’s piercing eyes focus like lasers toward the woodline while his deep, throaty bark sends a final warning to the trespasser.
Not tonight Cottontail. Not tonight,” Roars Theo.
The Cottontail Rabbit. Stealthy, yes, but not stealthy enough for Theo.
Our supervillain, recognizing Theo’s cunning, strength, and sheer force of will has partnered with another malefactor. Will these dastardly scoundrels overpower our hero and enslave humanity? The balance of power in the world, lest I say the universe, is precariously perched on the razor’s edge.
Cottontails working in tandem to thwart Theo, Guardian of the Livestock. First. A snack!
Will these two Supervillains trick Theo after their reassurances not to attack? Will the offering of birdseed, avocados, and grapes tentatively keep the peace? How much can a bunny eat?
Peace. Such a fleeting concept, like a snowflake melting on your tongue on a cold winter’s day.
The supervillains feast on the offerings. Or are they preparing for their next attack?
For now, Theo’s nemeses feast rather than attack. The peace is held for one more day.
Can peace last?
Wait! What is that?
Did the Cottontails open a wormhole to the squirellebulous galaxy in the forestal quadrant? Is it yet another alien race seeking to enslave mankind?
Just when Theo defeats one supervillain a second emerges, and just in time for a Summer box office smash! Thank goodness it will be available for streaming during the pandemic. Squirrels and actors have to eat!
How can our hero; Theo, guardian of the livestock, defeat this new threat, the black squirrel? A villain capable of climbing to unseen heights and leaping incredible distances.
What defense can there be against such powers?
How much can one dog do?
Theo vows to always be there to save mankind. Ever vigilant.
Theo, the Great Pyrenees always ready to protect a herd of sheep, mankind, or go for a trip to the dump. Head out the window and tongue in the air, wagging his tail like he just don’t care.
In reality, Theo doesn’t take his job all that seriously.
Last night I set up the trail cam expecting to see opossums but I got two rabbits, a bunch of mouse eyes glowing in the darkness, and squirrels in the morning.
Theo does bark at the bunnies nightly, but it’s more of a half bark than a ‘Get off my lawn’ bark. Further, he frequently pauses to see if he can get a treat for coming inside.
Admittedly, sometimes Theo refuses to come into the house until he literally sees, or hears, the treat bag.
I saw the black squirrel at the end of last winter and spring but it stopped visiting. The cold weather and frozen ground have brought the squirrel back seeking food.
It’s very cool to see a black squirrel!
I don’t know the sex of the black squirrel but it has a mate. I hope they start a family.
I also got a cool photo of this grey squirrel eating an avocado.
I don’t know what the Merriam-Webster definition of being ‘A Creative’ is. I’m going to define it by what my gut tells me because that’s how creative people do things.
What is a Creative
Being a creative means that you have an artistic side and like to create artistic things. Artistic things can go in so many different directions; from music to poetry to graphic design to landscape design.
I could never touch on how many different types of creative people there are.
Creatives often have a side that connects with emotion. I wouldn’t be surprised if many creatives have an empathic nature.
Empaths can ‘feel’ emotion in anything; from a bird flying by to a hostile person honking in traffic.
The sad part of being an empath, and possibly a creative, is that emotions are felt on a much deeper level.
I don’t think all creatives are empathic, however, I believe many are.
Another part of being a creative is wanting what you create to be perfect. It’s not done until it’s perfect. There is always room for improvement. Especially if you are a creative.
I constantly see ways to improve things I created. Can the bed lines flow a little better? What if I use a plant that blooms later in the year? How can I hide that outlet?
These little tweaks are what make or break a landscape.
When I think of perfection I think of the Sistine Chapel. Did Michelangelo need to take it that far? As a creative, I know he had to.
Working on the sound of the band
Trying to get the music right.
-Eric Clapton “Pretending”
The sad truth is perfection doesn’t exist. However, that doesn’t keep a creative from trying to achieve it.
The Downside to Being a Creative
I can’t turn it off. I am always analyzing the best way to do things.
When on vacation I observe the way plantings are arranged in the hope of learning something new.
When I see landscape contractors doing jobs I notice how they prepare the beds and which plants they are using.
I love walking around arboretums. They are one of the few places you can see how plants look after much time has passed.
The Upside to Being a Creative
There are two moments I find extremely fulfilling.
The first is the final day of a project. When all of the decisions have been made and I look at my art and know that it was all worth it.
The changes to the bedlines look magnificent, the paving material was just the right choice, the stepping stones are placed to provide access while feeling natural.
I get a rush on the final day of a project for another reason. I see the appreciation on my client’s face and nothing makes me happier.
The second time I get a rush is when I return to a landscape after a week, a month, a year, or more and I’m taking it in. All of the details I’ve worked through can be appreciated.
The Ugly Side to Being a Creative
Burnout.
That’s where I am now.
It stinks.
I’ve been working through a problem for months. It has nothing to do with being creative but it’s affecting my creativity.
I’m tapped out.
My intuition has been seeking a solution to a problem greater than a bed line or plant selection. A problem for which there is no answer.
Hopefully, I’ll reach acceptance and start to move forward.
There are plenty of sunny days coming.
This too shall pass.
I wrote this post a while ago. Today I’m posting it so others know they’re not alone.
Some photos I’d like to share with you. No worries if amateur photography isn’t your thing. If it is, I hope you enjoy. Click on the pictures to open at full size.
Snowy Morning
Snowy Morning – After a sticky snow, I caught this image of the landscape plastered with beautiful whiteness.
New England Barn through Icy Window
New England Barn through Icy Window – Looking through ice crystals to see the outline of an old New England Barn.
Holzhausen in the Snow
Holz hausen in the snow – A Holz hausen woodpile plastered by snow.
New England Winter Sunset
New England Winter Sunset – The sun sets through our kitchen window nightly. The two large trees in the foreground are sugar maples.
Angelic Wings
Angelic Wings – I was inspired when the path of a bird’s feet ended leaving marks from angelic wings.
Intimate Angelic Wings
Intimate Angelic Wings – A closeup of the pattern in the snow where a bird took flight.
While feeding birds attracts birds it also attracts other ‘woodland creatures’. I’ve stopped labeling creatures as desirable or undesirable, they’re simply creatures making their way in this world the same as you and me.
Woodland creatures can be divided into two categories. Those you see during the day and those you don’t see at night.
There are as many night creatures as day creatures proving yet again that man is definitely NOT the master of his domain.
Last night I spotted a new night creature whom we’ll refer to as Pepe Le Pew.
The Possum aka ‘The Banana Bandit’ visits regularly, he or she grabs a piece of fruit and moves deeper into the woods to eat it. I didn’t realize we had possum until I woke early one morning and watched him or her meticulously combing the lawn for birdseed.
In addition to birdseed, red grapes are a huge hit with the night creatures. If I place a bunch at the woodline the stem is picked clean by morning.
Today I spotted flowers on a stewartia seedling in the yard. I was beyond ecstatic. I felt the rush only gardeners and adrenaline junkies know.
There was something special about those flowers.
The flowers were flatter,brighter and more delicate than the parent.
A flower on the parent stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia).
The parent Stewartia growing in the front yard. In hindsight, I should have planted it at least another six feet away from the house.
The flower I saw today.
The grouping of stewartia seedlings, the one I saw is in the center of the picture with two flowers.
Big difference!
While we’re taught that all plants of the same genus and species grow X feet tall and X feet wide and have X attributes they don’t. There is always some variation unless plants are grown from cuttings or cloned.
When I laid eyes on the stewartia I planted in front of the house I knew it was destined for my garden. The tree had a distinct upright habit, rare for stewartias, as well as a strong central leader.
Take the time to listen to plants they’ll tell you where they want to grow and what they need to thrive. Forget what you know and listen to the plant.
Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.) love dry spots in the shade, like growing through the cracks of a bluestone patio.
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) likes soil that is always damp, but not wet, and spreads like wildfire in the right conditions.
Plant begonias or impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) on shady patios in large containers. Old fashioned. Yes. Easy, colorful and bulletproof. Yup!
Pink impatiens hide an outlet while creating a focal point. This explosion of color will last until frost or the deer find them.
I’m a huge fan of tuberous begonias on shady patios. They have colorful flowers all summer.
Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) likes to grow just beyond where the gutter drips. Don’t plant under the gutter, the plants will be smushed by downpours. Columbine goes dormant by the end of summer but you’ll be rewarded next spring.
We don’t treat all people the same. Why should we treat all plants the same?
When you learn that all plants and people are different you’re well on your way in this adventure we call gardening, and life.
Last week I spotted a little turtle on the patio. It blended with the paito and moss so well I barely noticed it. The turtle’s shell was about the size of a half-dollar.
There’s a pond about 200 yards away. A turtle must have laid her eggs in the area.
This is the time of the year you’re likely to see a turtle crossing the road in search of a place to lay her eggs.
Turtles are quick to cross roads but extremely vulnerable when they do. If you see a turtle crossing consider stopping your car, putting your hazards on and alerting other drivers of the turtles presence.
Put your own safety first. I don’t recommend waving your arms and pointing at a turtle in the midst of rush hour traffic.
That’s quite the look on the baby turtles face. He seems very chill.
I woke today before 6 am and walked around the yard. The alarm didn’t wake me, the sun told me it was time to greet the day.
I saw a hummingbird gathering itself on the arbor, as it does every morning at sunrise. The hummingbird wraps its feet around the wire on the top right-hand side.
A raven I’ve been watching, and who’s been watching me, sat on the power line surveying his territory. I took this picture of him a couple of years ago flying with a peanut. The raven is in the center of the picture.
The world was fresh after thunderstorms last night.
As I was thinking about the day I heard Bruce Hornsby singing “Look Out any Window.” If you haven’t heard the song it’s worth a listen.
A few years ago, I spent a lot of time going for long walks in the forest. I believe some people call it hiking but it sure feels like going for a walk in the woods.
I’d like to share a few pictures as I continue looking out any window.
I discovered the upper block of the Paugussett State Forest that year and recommend it to anyone who enjoys hiking or being in nature. I spent hours exploring the forest and learning where the trails lead.
The highlight of that summer was when I packed a lunch, some water and snacks and hiked the entire Lillinonah Trail. I didn’t hike for speed, I hiked for the enjoyment of being in nature.
That day I stumbled on a tree covered with moss and red fungus. I’ve never seen fungus that red before or after that day.
I hiked Southford Falls several times that summer. The trail that goes along Papermill Pond is a pleasant walk up. The trail along Eightmile Brook is almost straight up near the end and I avoid climbing that way.
While walking in Southford Falls I stumbled upon these cards. It didn’t feel right to take them as I thought others might enjoy them, so I took a picture. I was at a low point and want to thank whoever left these cards in the forest.
Perhaps I took the advice written on the cards.
I’ve been working toward finding work that allows me to be more creative and sharing my passion for gardening, landscaping and nature.
I’m not a fan of graffiti, however, I read this at the top of the fire tower and it reminded me of the trials and tribulations of young love. Click on the image to open, use the back arrow to return to the post.
Matt, I hope they saw how special you are and reciprocated your affection. However, please understand you can’t make someone love you, and sometimes you have to let go to move forward.
I’m saying this because I wish someone said the same to me when I was your age, or perhaps someone did and I chose not to listen.
Have patience, give it time and you’ll find the right person.
While some consider impatiens (Impatienswalleriana) old-fashioned; I consider them reliable, easy to grow and gorgeous.
Impatiens thrive in shady spots.
If you have a shady patio or deck pots of impatiens will brighten the space immediately. Once impatiens start blooming they don’t stop until frost.
I planted impatiens in pots around an outdoor outlet for screening. Eventually, I’ll figure out what to plant there permanently but for now, I’m using them as a filler.
By September these plants will be mounds eighteen inches tall and in need of light pruning to keep the branches from breaking. You won’t be able to see the outlet.
While the image above focuses on the outlet when you step back the outlet disappears. Sometimes we have to see the forest for the trees. The only person that will ever notice that outlet is me.
This picture of the impatiens gives a better feel of what’s going on. In another week my Stewartia pseudocamellia will be in full bloom! You can see the tight blooms to the left of the lamp post.
If you plant impatiens in pots water them daily during the heat of the summer. I water outdoor potted plants daily during the summer anyway.
Impatiens like wet soil and go limp the second they dry out. While you can plant impatiens in the garden I usually put them in pots.
A word of caution, deer love impatiens. If you’ve got deer plant them where the deer don’t roam or suffer the consequences. I have lost a pot of impatiens overnight to those beautiful creatures.
While I admit the salmon contrasts with the bright pink of my petunias I’m ok with that. This bed is half sun and half shade so we’ll see if my sun plants (Petunias) or shade plants (Impatiens) like the garden better.
Don’t overlook impatiens for a shady spot. They’re incredibly easy and reliable plants.
