Ever since I contracted “gardening fever,” I dreamed of a “careless garden,” devoid of much of the backbreaking labor and constant attention my friends found necessary to maintain their home grounds.
Imbued with this idea from the first, I planned my garden to provide year-round color, using only plants that require a minimum of care.
Although I admit I was a ‘lazy gardener,” the idea paid off.
When a crippling illness prevented me from gardening actively, my garden continued to flourish, so with a minimum of assistance, it looks well and is the envy of my friends.
What Is My Secret?
My secret is really no secret at all!
I simply chose flowering shrubs, perennials, and a few spring-flowering bulbs that can be left undisturbed in the same location year after year.
Early spring finds many early spring bulbs adding gay color to my garden, along with such early-flowering shrubs as winter jasmine and forsythia.
These are followed by tulips, dwarf, evergreen azaleas, and hybrid rhododendrons.
From May To July
May brings peonies, which thrive without disturbance, and are excellent for cutting.
They bloom into June and are followed by Shasta daisies and stately delphiniums.
In July, while delphiniums are still in their glory, they are joined by Oriental poppies, carnations, and pinks.
From August To November
August is the time for phlox, which continues until frost. Daylilies also view for top honors this month.
September brings chrysanthemums and the popular hardy asters.
In October, chrysanthemums are at their peak, ranging from the tiny button and small cushion types to huge ball varieties.
Late-flowering varieties of chrysanthemums continue into November, and with the first killing frosts, they have the company of the colorful foliage of azaleas.
From December To March
Fall foliage forms the basic color scheme in my careless garden in December, when dogwoods, tulip trees, and some flowering fruit trees turn scarlet and gold.
In January, early-blooming shrubs, such as jasmine, flower despite the cold.
During this month, berry-bearing shrubs and trees, including firethorn, holly, and mountain ash, display colorful berries, while the foliage of the Oregon holly-grape becomes bronze.
Finally, February and March have the least color, though the berried shrubs and trees usually carry on.
My Conclusion
All this has led me to discover that it is possible to have a colorful garden year-round without many different kinds of plants.
It is equally possible to arrange this garden to require a minimum of care.
The only requirement is first to plan with this thought in mind and then select the plants accordingly.
44659 by Mark M. Taylor