Gardens
Who doesn’t like flowers? Since 2020 I had a small container garden on a balcony and I still have houseplants that I obtained in the 1990s. But I’ve never been interested in spending my time planting and tending something bigger. It wasn’t an option at our condo in Austin, and that was one of it’s attractions.
The place we are renting has a gorgeous yard, like a slow fireworks show (see above). The early spring had catmint, lavender, and a flowering fruit tree. Through the whole summer we had pink coneflowers and assorted daisies. Now in early fall the grasses, pampas, Karl Foerster, and switchgrass shine. Purple aster enthusiastically colors the wilder parts of the yard. I’m inspired. Surrounded by such beauty even weeding became a delightful pastime on cool summer mornings.
Chula Vista’s wild backyard
Our new house, Chula Vista Casa, presents many opportunities. The front yard is mostly a gravel driveway with some Juniper, Pinon, and low shrubs, fairly plain. Over to the side we could plant some shade-loving flowers for a pop of color. Currently the backyard is wild with purple aster and a yellow daisy of some sort. The only spot where there are no flowers is the scar from the septic installation.
Maggie, our landlord and the person responsible for the designing the garden where we are renting, came over a few weeks ago to look at our place and give some suggestions. With our renovation plans affecting some parts of the exterior, it’s too early to think about landscaping. Nonetheless, Maggie and her husband Jesse made helpful observations about establishing infrastructure for irrigation. In the meantime, why not scatter some seeds? Especially in the huge barren spot over the septic. So, I’ve been gathering Hollyhock seeds from fading plants that grow in the sidewalks near us. Birds will probably eat most of what I distribute and thus I’m planning to also put a few in pots to more carefully cultivate.
I’ve also collected seeds from the coneflowers and the wild sunflowers that grew in the driveway. These perennials, the Hollyhocks and Coneflowers at least, aren’t supposed to flower in their first year and so it will be a while before I’ll know what worked.