Re: [SG] Something Odd

At 11:33 PM 5/12/99 EDT, you wrote:
>Rilly, old sweat! It sounds like a terribly taxing job for you to keep it up
>, but we all have certain likes and disilikes. As Oscar Wilde put it in
>respect of works of art: "One cannot say that this or that is bad or good.
>One can only say I like this and don't like that."
>The terrible truth is that most American gardeners have more money than they
>have taste.And they waste their money on coxcombs, nicotianas, petunias,
>phlox, carnations, roses, and those AWFUL salvias and DAYLILIES!!
>
>Clyde Crockett, self-styled arbiter of Taste in American Gardens. <G>

Clyde, Clyde, Clyde, :)

But it's not a waste of money if it brings joy to the gardener. You would
hate my front gardens. This year I got the last blade of grass out. Let me
amend that to "except for the ones trying to make a comeback". It is full
of shrubs, trees, native plants, flowers, edibles, herbs, perennials,
annuals and biennials, and a small pond (oversize mud puddle). It is wild
life friendly with its diversity of plantings for the wild friends of the
garden. The garden is lively with birds, frogs, fish, bugs and everything
else that chooses to visit it. The garden is organic so it is also
environmentally friendly. It has a huge stump (gasp! :)... ) coverered in
huckleberries and salal (weeds to some).

My winter garden blooms all year round and if I followed the rules and put
it in the back I wouldn't enjoy it as much, or not at all. I would not have
much interest in gardening if I was bound by rules (I have never even heard
of such rules is that kind of like having matching furniture in the house?
God forbid we mix woods, and patterns! :) ) I would miss being creative
combining textures, foliage and color to paint my garden canvas, while
being told where it's acceptable and where it's not. I am proud to be an
American gardener (waving flag! :) ) and able to have the freedom to garden
as I choose. Our region we can garden year round and have lots of
influences here with Japanese, European, etc and a mix of the American
style thrown in. :)

I moved to a new home 2 seasons ago and because of the gardens I have met
most of my neighbors, some who are taking some of what I have done and
incorporating it into their gardens. A great form of flattery! I am
impatiently waiting for more shade so I can have more shade plants. Hard to
get used to full sun after gardening in the shade for years. I too have
people stop to look plus my neighbors walk through my garden paths all the
time on their daily walks and they are welcome to do this. I love my
neighbors!

As far as front gardens being impolite because of what is planted in it, I
am totally rude. I wouldn't have it any other way. Rude gardeners unite, be
creative, and rebel against those that want to make the rules!!! :) Tongue
firmly planted in cheek! ~Deb
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Debra Teachout-Teashon
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
Washington state of rain.
USDA zone 8, Sunset zone 5
New article: Invite Birds Into Your Northwest Garden
http://www.rainyside.com/landscaping/BirdGarden.html
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