Gardening by Osmosis

I thought of my grandson’s wedding this weekend. The officiator was springtime. Warm soil and rain were the bride and groom. The audience in their garden was clothed in finery not typical to everyday wear. The promise of permanence was portrayed through strong support and the song of love rang sweet in the air. Nature was smiling and laughing with joy as the marriage commenced in the open air ceremony. When the couple was united the garden was elated with hope for the future.

If only the daffodils could last just a little longer but rain wrinkled the early yellow bloomers. There are later blooming varieties that can fill in the gaps so don’t hesitate to remove the spent blooms to showcase the more floriferous ones. Try not to remove the leaves (blades) until they lose their green and fade to limp, light beige as they are still feeding the bulbs for next year.

If you are fortunate enough to live in a deer free zone, tulips will be the next to dazzle your garden palette. If you plan to replicate pictures of children running through ribbons of colorful tulips in your garden now is the time to consider varieties to purchase in the fall. Those growing pots of tulips you may receive for Mother’s Day or purchase at the garden center may also be planted. Don’t be discouraged if they don’t flower next year as they need dormancy to complete their growing schedule. They will most likely flower the following year. So, healthy bulbs planted in the fall are the best candidates for robust tulip blooms.

I was disappointed to discover the voles had devoured many of my prized perennials during the long cold winter. Even though they were the voles favorites too, I still plan to replace them. (Not the voles, I have other plans for them!) I was sad to see the empty spaces and holes where gaillardia, guara, columbine and some of my favorite ornamental grasses had been. My expensive white swan echinacea was gone as was much of my creeping pink phlox and woolly thyme which was decimated under the snow.

I was encouraged to find new growth erupting where iris, blue salvia, lavender, red husker penstemon, lamb’s ear and peonies had been so lovely last year.

I am hoping to see recovery of the four varieties of agastache, that are such good pollinator plants, that I had fallen in love with.

There was unmerciful gnawing on several varieties of ninebark and the summer blooming spireas experienced considerable winter kill. These shrubs are responding to my late pruning and because they are hardy plants I am hopeful they will recover this season. Spokane County’s signature plant, the lilac, was a champion and has survived beautifully.

Like the melding of families in marriage the plants in my garden have become combinations of unique attributes and the spirit of life permeates their generations. There will be replacements for lost plants but new and exciting melanges will prevail.

Margaret A. Swenson is a certified Master Gardener. To reach her, call 509-477-2181.