A realization came to me the other day as I was looking for signs of spring in my garden. It occurred to me that my garden was now a “grown-up.” Gone were the little plants that I had planted, all the time wishing they were bigger. Everything looked so lost sitting there waiting to grow up and now, the conifers that were so cute 20 years ago, don’t look so cute anymore.

The roots are raising up the ground where my kids and I planted little Douglas firs on Arbor Day so many years ago and the branches are limbed up and sparse, broken in places. The past winter’s storms took care of any loose branches and weak limbs.

Gold thread cypress and mugho pines have become lanky and see-through as well as much too large for their spaces. Spring blooming lilacs and forsythias careful transplanted from grandpa’s house have thrived all too well, their branches stretching past the borders of their beds out into the lawn.

Blooming evergreen shrubs such as pieris, escallonias, rhododendrons and camellias have evolved into small trees. Assorted under-story plantings are crowding each other for attention, and my lawn area has shrunken away to be replaced with wider flower beds and borders.

Where did my windows go? Why is my entry walkway so narrow? Why do I get swatted by rose canes every time I get out of my car?

I do know this didn’t happen overnight. I guess while I was busy cramming more plants in for color and interest, the “bones” of my garden had just kept on growing. I became accustomed to their size.

Al this isn’t as bad as it sounds. In fact, along with the passing of time, many good things have been happening. Now, opportunity is knocking! Decisions must be made. What stays and what goes?

Happily, many shrubs have matured and are now showing off their full glory. Others though, have been crowded out, become ugly or just don’t perform well enough to deserve a place in the garden any more.

After removing the unwanted plants, the mature specimen will be better featured. It will be wonderful to start new gardens around them. It’s like starting over, only with the bigger size you wanted so long ago.

Take advantage of these newly-cleared spaces. Realize that an interesting garden is not just comprised of all plants. This is a great opportunity to update your garden, to breath new life into it. New trends in colors, plants and accessories are ready and waiting for you.

Be adventurous and creative. Express yourself. That’s what makes gardening fun and exciting. By combining tinkling wind chimes, pretty flowers and fragrant vines on a scrolled wrought-iron trellis in your garden scene, you will be appealing to many of your senses. sweet smells, pleasant sounds and beauty will only enhance your garden experience.

Water features will encourage wildlife and moving water sounds can create a number of moods. Beautiful waterfalls, fountains and bird baths are available in lots of styles and colors. Bird houses can be attractive to you and your bird friends.

Add bold, bright colors with gazing balls. Accent a special path with a big, colorful ceramic pot. Brighten up a shady spot with something as simple as a mirror.

Garden benches and other garden furniture promise comfort and respite. Wonderful statues of wildlife and mythical creatures whisper personality, mystery and charm. Think wall plaques made of terra-cotta and brightly painted figures of the sun, moon and stars.

Independent nurseries and garden centers are great places to find the best selection and most unique treasures known to gardeners. Since they specialize in gardening products, they shop and purchase with their customers in mind. They know what you like and want because they like and want it for themselves as well.

These nurseries are up on current trends as well as the old “tried and true.” It is their job to inspire you with new ideas and inform you about new plants and products on the market.

Trevor Cameron, nursery manager of Wights Home and Garden explains their way of thinking. “We understand that gardeners needs are changing. Lives have gotten busier and home lots have gotten smaller. We have to go with these new concepts. We supply compact, tidier plants that fit into a smaller garden space. They need to be easier to maintain. They also need to be easier to take home from the nursery and manageable for the average homeowner to plant,” he said.

Another trend we are seeing is container gardening. “People want planters for different reasons. They want to create a garden where there isn’t one. Or they want privacy where there is none,” explained Mark Dudas, lead container designer at Wight’s. “They may just want to dress up their patio, porches lanais, balconies, pathways or pool-sides. You may not have the time or inclination to plant your own planter. That’s what we’re here for. Any plant. Any pot. For any place. You can really make a personal statement with custom, one-of-a-kind planters, especially if you add garden accessories or something that is special to you.”

So I did find a sign of spring in my garden that day. That sign was inspiration. After all, spring itself is “renewal and promise of good things to come.” Boy, I’d I have a job list to prove that!

Jenny Jorgensen is the Nursery Manager for Wight’s Home & Garden in Lynnwood.

source : www.zwire.com

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