It is currently the season for gardens, and ours here at The Lodge are in their glory! We have been known for many years for the beautiful landscaping and luxuriously colorful flower beds on our 5 acres here in Jackson; we’ve even won First Place in local gardening contests and have several other awards to our credit. Last year, however, you may remember that the weather just wasn’t with us … it rained nearly every day. Not only did this make it next to impossible to get out there to weed, but our beautiful plants nearly drowned. Yellow leaves, leaf drop, brown spots … let’s just say that it wasn’t one of our better years in the flower department. This year however, is a completely other story! With the exception of those few devilishly hot days we suffered through a couple of weeks ago, the weather in northern New Hampshire has been nearly perfect, with just the right amount of rainfall (which for the most part had the good manners to come during the night!). The flowers are really magnificent, if we do say so ourselves, and I’d say that 9 out of 10 guests comment on them as well sometime during their stay.
Last week I was down to one last hurdle: the center circular garden in the middle of the driveway. With only so many hours in the day, it was the one piece of the gardening puzzle I had just not had time this summer to address. It was, however, the one I considered to be most important, being right out in front, and making a statement to everyone as they drove by or came in to visit. So, I took the bull by the horns about 5:00 one morning last week, and pulled out all the hayfield-high weeds. It was worth every bit of the effort!
My weed-pulling campaign inspired Dana and our wonderful handyman Phil, who then went to town to put down landscaping cloth, mulch and put in flowers. What a huge difference it has made … When I stand out front to look at their efforts, it now gives me great pleasure; true ‘gardening glory’!
I have some additional big plans for this garden in the future. For one thing, the mighty sugar maple that stands stage center within its boundaries, has a blight and will, at some point, have to come down. Sniff, sniff … I hate cutting down trees, let alone maples, and sugar maples to boot (one of my favorites of all). Nevertheless, it will have to come down, and probably next year. But as a consolation for losing my woody friend, I am going to put up a small gazebo, like the quintessential Jackson icon, but in miniature. It will have fresh garlands in winter bedecking its railings, lots of tiny white lights the year round, and act as a landmark for those whose GPS systems do not take kindly to our physical street address! I love our summertime gardens … hope you do, too!
My weed-pulling campaign inspired Dana and our wonderful handyman Phil, who then went to town to put down landscaping cloth, mulch and put in flowers. What a huge difference it has made … When I stand out front to look at their efforts, it now gives me great pleasure; true ‘gardening glory’!
I have some additional big plans for this garden in the future. For one thing, the mighty sugar maple that stands stage center within its boundaries, has a blight and will, at some point, have to come down. Sniff, sniff … I hate cutting down trees, let alone maples, and sugar maples to boot (one of my favorites of all). Nevertheless, it will have to come down, and probably next year. But as a consolation for losing my woody friend, I am going to put up a small gazebo, like the quintessential Jackson icon, but in miniature. It will have fresh garlands in winter bedecking its railings, lots of tiny white lights the year round, and act as a landmark for those whose GPS systems do not take kindly to our physical street address! I love our summertime gardens … hope you do, too! 
No comments:
Post a Comment