I was reading a post by Alison Kerr called A Guide to Happy Family Gardening, a review of a book by that name. I was really struck by one of the chapter titles: The Dreaming Season, a time for planning.
This is definitely the Dreaming Season for me!
Maybe because it has been so cold and gray for some time now, but I am dreaming of a garden in bloom, with birds and butterflies and all manner of other critters flitting from plant to plant.
I look back through the gardens in our ongoing feature: the Ecosystem Gardening Showcase in an attempt to warm myself with images of the amazing life and beauty in each of them.
And the catalogs.
Every time I get one in the mail, it is like Christmas. I dream, and plan, and wonder “what if” through each and every page:
- If only I lived in Florida, where it is (usually) warm
- If only I had several acres so I could fit in more plants for wildlife
- If only my neighbors would take care of their trees
- If only my neighbors would stop planting invasive plants
- If only……..
I have a friend who calls the catalogs “garden porn” because every page is overflowing with amazing, voluptuous blooms.
I love the Dreaming Season. In my imagination, my gardens are gorgeous, cover many acres, and are filled with more birds and butterflies than I have ever seen. Dreaming can be a wonderful thing.
But this is also the planning season.
I have found that it’s a very good idea to photograph all areas of your property throughout the growing season so that during the planning season you can see how things change through the season and where the empty spots are that could have a few new plants tucked into them.
Want more butterflies in your garden?
You will need to provide ongoing nectar sources in addition to the host plant for each species. I’ve found a great tool for this at North American Butterflies and Moths. Just click on your state and you’ll be taken to a species list for that state. Clicking on each species will give you its natural history details, including host plants.
How about installing a new feature, such as a rain garden, wildlife pond, wildflower meadow, or green roof?
These are definitely items that require some planning. Get out your graph paper and make a map of your property. If your garden is under snow right now, get out those photographs and create your map from them.
You’ll need to plan the location of your new feature and then research the best plants for your region and garden circumstances. For some ideas see Ecosystem Gardening How To.
Above all else have fun with the Dreaming Time! Imagine all the possibilities for your garden. Play with many ideas and just let your mind go wild. Then take the time to make a plan. The wildlife in your garden will thank you.
What are your garden dreams? Planning a new feature in your garden? What wildlife would you like to see more of? Let’s have some fun and imagine the possibilities.
© 2010, Carole Brown. All rights reserved.
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I would love a wildflower garden, but I’ve only got a very small amount of sunny room for one. How big of a space would I need, and where would be a good source of getting the seed for one on the east coast?
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Robin, you can use whatever space you have to put in a wildflower garden. The critters will appreciate whatever you can give them.
Dreaming, I love it. Planning I’m not so good at, but I try hard. “Garden porn” – that is funny and appropriate.
Thanks for the mention Carole.
Alison Kerr´s last post ..A Guide to Happy Family Gardening
Excellent post Carole – I’m all for dreaming! And definitely some planning afterwards though! ;o)
@Alison, thanks for the idea!
@Rachel Dreaming and Planning are very important, especially when one follows the other!
Dreaming, planning. I do both. My problem is sticking with the plan once I make it! Oh well, there’s always room for one more plant…
Wow Carole, I love the North American Butterflies and Moths website that you mention! I have never seen it before this. What a great resource, it even goes down to county level. I will be putting this link on my blogs for sure.
As far as dreaming, I think so much about gardening all the time that even my night dreams have garden planning in them.
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Wow…amazing shot of that hummingbird moth! Where was it taken, and by whom?
Thanks, as always, for the inspiration….
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