There is always what you intend, and then what actually happens. Despite spending the cold winter months planning out a “perfect” garden, such a thing has yet to materialize. In part because I forgot a gardener’s biggest enemy – bunnies. Apparently, the sweet baby plants that Steph and I added are too tempting to the local bunny community and rather than growing, have been making an excellent salad. I’ve taken to placing glass jars over the plants that I want to protect to see if that has any effect. They actually seem to be helping a little during this drought as condensation gathers inside the glass rather than evaporating into the air.
Add to it that many of last year’s cultivars never came back and what you are left with is a pretty barren looking space. Thankfully my friend Alissa provided some fresh hope. She is spearheading an effort to plant natives in Touhy Park and had roughly a flat of plants leftover that they couldn’t fit into the space. So, they are finding a home in my corner garden. The plants include more asters, winged loosestrife, golden alexanders and brown eyed Susans. I’ve planted them throughout the space, frankly a little willy nilly, to see what takes. I’m not familiar with the first two so I’m excited to see what comes of them.
Also, I finally have a watering can that’s up to the job which has made watering this full sun spot easier. Suffice it to say, things are a little more difficult than I had hoped plotting away last December. But fingers crossed, things will turn around.
Birchwood Butterfly Corner 