Resilience
I am watching the snowdrops as they bravely lift their heads through the remnants of snow, and I am reminded about resilience. According to the internet it is “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness”. It’s one reason I chose the snowdrop for my logo. To me it represents beauty in the face of harsh circumstances. Resilience is such an important attribute and yet one that seems lacking today. We live in a society where expectations are high, and success must be immediate. We don’t seem to know how to get up when we have been knocked down. We no longer hear the expression “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
My garden is a great example of resilience. Look carefully at plants that have been browsed by deer that appear dead until a tender green shoot appears. See the container plants that never made it into the ground last fall and overwintered in a pile of leaves. Despite freezing temperatures they are coming back. The prized echinacea that I had to have (but that was over budget) is dead. But it has seeded in and its children continue. The evergreen that had its central leader damaged by snow has made a new one. Even the beautiful ‘Audrey’ ficus (pictured here) speaks of resilience. A client had these (very expensive) plants but didn’t want them. By the time I got to them they looked dead but I didn’t want to give up so I brought them in to the house and tended them. Eventually all the leaves fell off; people wondered why I would have dead plants taking up so much room in the house. I couldn’t give up – they were valuable. And look what happened. ‘Audrey’ was resilient and over time came back better than ever.
Thomas Edison made 1000 attempts to invent a light bulb. Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper because the editor said he “lacked imagination.” Robin Williams was voted “Least Likely to Succeed” in high school. At a modeling agency Marilyn Monroe was told she had better learn secretarial work or get married.
Whether in gardening or in life, resilience is a vital attribute. As Vince Lombardi said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.”
READ MORE ABOUT OTHERS WHO DID NOT GIVE UP
Late bloomers
No, I am not talking about the awkward middle school years, although I would definitely be in that group. I am talking about perennials that bloom late summer into fall. These are invaluable players in any good garden design. The spring garden is beautiful with its show of bulbs and ephemerals and the summer garden wows with its peonies and roses. But what happens in September and October? If your garden starts to fall asleep consider a few of these less expected “late bloomers” to wake it up.
Actaea. This is one of my all-time favorite late blooming perennials. Actaea (formerly cimicifuga) has a beautiful base of fern-like foliage and beginning in summer and continuing through fall the plant sends up stems topped with white bottle-brush shaped flowers. What I love most about this plant is the fragrance; to me it smells like grape jelly. Make sure to site actaea where its delicious smell can be enjoyed – I have three plants by my side door and the fragrance greets me whether I am coming or going. Actaea likes shade to part-shade in rich soil. It can take a bit more sun but will start to crisp if not given enough water. I love the dark-foliaged varieties like ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ or ‘Brunette’.
Chelone glabra. Also known as turtlehead this is another great perennial. Good in full sun to part shade chelone does not like to dry out so it would be perfect for a wet spot in the garden. It forms a nice clump between 2’-3’ and blooms from August to September. As a beekeeper I know how popular it is with pollinators – it even contains compounds that scientists have found bees use to self-medicate. Chelone is primarily pink but I have the true chelone glabra which is white.
Vernonia. If you are looking to attract hummingbirds and butterflies this is the perennial for you. Vernonia, also known as Ironweed, is an easy-to-grow sun-loving native that will reward you with beautiful purple blooms from August through September. Ironweed can be large – up to six-feet – so it makes a great statement at the back of the border. For those with smaller garden Vernonia lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’ might be a good choice. This ironweed stays under 3’x3’ and unlike some vernonias is very drought tolerant once established. Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’ is one of Piet Oudolf’s “Must Have” plants and is massed at New York City’s Highline and Chicago’s Lurie Garden.
Watercolors.
I was so excited to find this sweet birdbath a few years ago and promptly placed it in my perennial garden. Unfortunately the birds did not seem to like it. Maybe its location – near a side door – was too busy for them. However, I loved the way it looked in the garden and was determined that it would not sit empty. After a trip to Chanticleer Garden I was inspired. My birdbath would no longer be a birdbath but a vessel to hold whatever was blooming in my garden at the time. I love this idea for so many reasons. As I walk by I notice details of flowers that I might otherwise have not. The slightest breeze shifts the composition, keeping things fresh. The arrangement is truly the captured garden, showing my whole garden in one small space. I change the flowers in my “watercolor” every few days to keep the welcome at my side door inviting.
If you have an unused vessel why not turn it into a “frame” for your own watercolor?
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