Gardening style

My gardening style was created rather unintentionally when we moved to
the Sierra Nevada mountains at 3000' when we retired.  But I think it is
working out wonderfully, and my husband (who is new to gardening) and I
walk around every day in the growing season and are amazed and
overjoyed. When we had area cleared for building our house in the
forest, we asked that the fewest trees possible be taken out for
construction purposes.  So we started out with very little sun; I
planted a rose under a tree, Gruss an Aachen, because it was said to
like shade.  It didnt.  Then I planted some yarrow seedlings which we
had brought from our old house.  From there, I just kept sticking things
in near the house where I found a spot which looked good.  I wasn't at
all sure that anything would grow, because I had only gardened in
California Mediterranean coastal climates before. 

I put some "Color Spot" primroses under a tree thinking they might last
a couple of months, as they would in the S.F. Bay Area.  After four
years of snow and sun, they are still there!  That has been the most
amazing thing to us - having plants thrive through snow and ice!  When
the plant catalogs started to arrive, I realized I could try plants I
had never even seen before.  Now I have bulbs like bluebells and lily of
the valley and tulips which have naturalized.  While some list members
have warned  that some of my plants can be invasive, I do not think that
will be a problem, as we still have the Mediterranean rain pattern, with
no rain for the summer months.  If I stopped watering, most of my plants
would not survive. This is not like the beautiful Eastern states, which
stay green all summer.

After a forest fire last year which came close, the local "Forest
Preservation Society" recommended thinning out many of the smaller
trees. On their advice, we cut many tiny Douglas firs and pines which
were growing thickly near the house, and that gave me more sun.  We also
found sunny areas near the back deck, where my husband built raised
beds.  We now have berries, a rhubarb plant, and a few fruit trees which
are starting to bear well.  As to my garden plan,  I have often picked
hardy plants which have unusual shapes, like Contorted Hazelnut, quince,
and a Corokia, which I just found at a local nursery.  They are all
stuck in without much plan, except that I try to make them look
interesting together, and I think it works.  Perennials which I put in
singly are now bunches, so I no longer have to consider them "spot
plants".  I have plants like Verbena bonariensis, which I bought because
others recommended them; now I can move them into more visually
appealing places, as I become more confident that I can actually grow
these great things!  I guess my total effect is a bit of a jumble, and I
can't really describe it.  I would be glad to send scanned photos to any
individuals who are interested.

As to our weather today, it seems to be about equal parts of sun, large
hail, rain and slushy snow.  Several weeks ago it got so warm that I
thought summer had arrived.  I planted tomatoes near the deck and they
were very happy for awhile.  Now they look a bit shocked.  But my roses
are beginning to bloom, and the iris are blooming.  The Gruss an Aachen
rose was moved to a sunnier spot and is now loaded with buds.  I have
not planted anything which should encroach on the native forest around
us, and the many native blooming dogwoods and other trees are a
beautiful background for everything.  My garden may not be in any
particular style, but we  are delighted with it, especially since we
didn't even realize that we would be able to garden here.

Anelle

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