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Did you ever have a dream in which you find yourself in an unknown place, explaining facts about something that you know absolutely nothing about to an audience you can't even see? Sometimes I feel that way about my garden, because until now, my garden was purely accidental.
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It's confession time, friends, and after having been a teacher for more years than I want to admit, it is time I told you the absolute truth: I am not a gardener. Oh, I want to be, and I am spending hours and hours learning, but the truth is, everything that is growing in my yard, everything that is already beginning to bloom is purely an accident. Some of you have read my Aunt Bett articles, and you know that I am somewhat knowledgeable about ancient medicinal qualities of plants. For the most part, though, I don't have a clue about how to grow those plants. When I was a child, my mother gave me an area for a flower garden. I wanted blue flowers, and she got blue flowers for me, showed me how to plant them, and there they were: blue iris and blue spiderwort. They grew for years, and I didn't do a thing but admire my blue flowers. When I had a home and family of my own, the house was pretty well landscaped when we bought it, my kids grew up with a nice big yard to play in, minus blooms, of course, until my uncle brought me daylilies from his daylily farm. So then I had daylilies. Nothing to be done about them, there they were and they bloomed and I did nothing but admire them. One day my friend brought me a twig with roots on it. "I am not sure what this is", she said, "but it should not grow very big". Since I still had an empty yard, I stuck it in the ground close to the brick arches in front. And watched it grow, until suddenly one day the bark started peeling, and I was forced to look up this unusual phenomenon in an encyclopedia. Ah ha! I had a River Birch tree, right in my front yard. Purely accidental. Another time the same friend brought me two twigs, long spindly things, and she said, "This is wisteria, just stick it in the ground and let it wind around something". OK. I grew up in the mountains, I was not familiar with wisteria, but I stuck one twig up against a clothesline post in the back yard, and the other I stuck against a broom handle in the front yard, since there was nothing else there to prop it against. So now I have two wonderful wisteria, they look like amazingly huge blooming lavender umbrellas throughout the month of April. Purely accidental. One spring I noticed a little thing that looked like holly growing up against the back deck. I watched it for a year or so, and realized it was going to keep right on growing. It looked pretty nice back there since there was nothing but a few daylilies and one wisteria in the entire back yard, so I let it grow. Now that wonderfully shaped holly is about 20 feet tall. (See first photo above.) Who planted it, the birds? Well maybe. Purely accidental. I look around now and I see yucca plants at various corners in my yard, and I remember that one of my husband's friends came to see us one Saturday and he had been cleaning out the ditch beside his home. He stopped by and asked if I wanted some yucca plants. I asked him if I had to do anything to them, and he assured me that I did not, but he had too many and was just ridding himself of the extra. He even planted them on each end of my back deck. And there they still grow. Purely accidental. I have a huge redbud tree that will be blooming in a few weeks, it also started as a small twig, given to me by an elderly neighbor who had a wonderful flower garden at her home. She also gave me some coral bells, and some columbine back in the eighties, assuring me that all I needed to do was to plant them. They of course have spread into big clumps now more than twenty years later. All purely accidental. The year before I retired from teaching, my uncle called and said he was going to sell his farm and wondered if I wanted any of the plants that had been there since my great grandparents lived there in the 20's. Well, of course I drove to Bardstown, KY and filled my car full of wonderful things. My uncle assured me that they would need no extra care. I brought home more daylilies, iris, hibiscus, black eyed susans, yarrow, mullein, and two evergreen seedlings. I have become braver as the years rolled by. Watching my plants grow gave me enough confidence to try starting a magnolia tree from seed, since my thirty year old one was too big, too close, and had to be removed. Now I have a new 6 feet tall magnolia, much farther from my house than the first one. I have another holly, too, an accident of course, so I simply left it to grow where it is. There are a couple of reasons for this very personal confessional. First of all I am just now learning Latin names for plants, thanks to my DG experiences; I am just now learning the importance of proper soil conditions, the do's and don'ts that entail gardening. I am enjoying all the learning processes, but they are no more important to me than are all my happy accidents of the past. The other reason for this writing is to also tell you how important it is to remember the history of your plants. I look at my red bud tree and think of Ms. Busz, who gave it to me when she was well into her 80's. I think of the yucca plants and my husband's friend who passed away shortly after he brought them to me. The hibiscus blooms every year just as it did for my great grandmother, and my daylilies will always remind me of my dear uncle. Gardens are very personal. Mine started as an accident, and I didn't know till now just how important accidents can be to our lives. I hope I will always remember how I happened to have an accidental garden. This year, for the very first time, I am brave enough to plant roses that I purchased all by myself, I know the names of every one of them. And that, my friends, is not an accident. Happy Gardening! (All photos are the property of the author.)
 | I am a retired high school art and humanities teacher. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southeast KY and now I live with my two rescued cats, Jazz and Daisy, in far western KY. I love daylilies and perennials, and thanks to my DG friends this year I am adding roses to my gardens.
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Subject: Wisteria
Posted by Dollykat (from Lucasville, OH) on April 7, 2008 at 11:37 PM:That wisteria picture is stunning. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 8, 2008 at 12:15 AM: Thanks Dolly...I have two of them, both equally beautiful.
Thanks for going back to read this article, too. I am glad you liked it. ...
Subject: Accidental beauty
Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on April 2, 2008 at 8:36 AM:Another wonderful article, Sharon. I think most of us have plants we were given by someone who either had too much or just wanted to share. My namesake, the real PIRL, gave me "slips" to start my gardens back in '68 and I still have them growing in this garden. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 2, 2008 at 10:44 AM: Thank you, Pirl. ... Posted by kmm44 (from Dayton, OH) on April 9, 2008 at 12:15 AM: I loved the article. I'm not totally an accidental gardener, but many of my first perennials were given to me by my mother-in-law. I have become a collector (running out of room, too, lol). I love pass-alongs and volunteers. I always give away as much as I can spare. I've also rescued plants from abandoned gardens.
I was doing some spring cleaning today in a front bed near the house and was amazed to see over a dozen foxgloves coming up. 3 years ago a beautiful foxglove mysteriously appeared among the ostrich ferns under the front window. It's white with throat of rosy speckles. I'd never seen one like it before. It bloomed again two years ago, but last year--nothing. I was so disappointed, since I had purposely planted the seeds to ensure more plants. The same thing happened with the pink one I planted the same year in another bed. Imagine my surprise when late last summer I saw numerous babies sprouting. I hope they had grown enough to bloom this year (if they survived). Now I'm finding a bumper crop of plants coming up in both areas.
I've had other volunteers that I loved--delphinium cousin larkspur (in a bed that I had wanted to plant delphiniums!), Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis), johnny-jump-ups (dwarf pansy cousin), forget-me-nots, daffodils, dwarf allium. I usually chalk it up to birds or the wind for bringing the seeds, but the last two are bulbs that have to be buried--no clue how they got there.
Plants bring back memories as much as smells and music. My mom loved blue morning glories, hollyhocks and four o'clocks. My dad loved zinnias. I plant seeds of all but the hollyhocks (one disastrous season with the pests and diseases was enough), but have a hollyhock-like plant given to me by my son. It's a prairie mallow (sildalcea) called Party Girl and blooms with small pink flowers that look like miniature hollyhocks. This hybrid doesn't have the pest and disease problems as regular hollyhocks.
The memories add much to the gardening experience.
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 9, 2008 at 12:19 AM: What a great post, thank you. A similar thing just happened to me, I suddenly have hollyhocks, a couple anyway, coming up in my bed of hostas. I have no idea where they came from, though I did add some marigold seed there last spring. Maybe they were mixed in?
Magic, I think! And your garden sounds lovely. ... Posted by lizrainey (from San Mateo, CA) on April 10, 2008 at 9:13 AM: another wonderful article shar, enjoyed reading!! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 10, 2008 at 10:58 AM: Liz, thank you. You just brightened my day. ...
Subject: Beautiful
Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on April 2, 2008 at 12:08 AM:Sharon,
You have a beautiful, friendly writing style! Your garden might be "purely accidental" but your choice of words is not. I have a feeling that you love words.
Thanks for the lovely article. I understand, I've been there. I'll take any plant (except for those marywanna or things of that order) that someone is kind enough to throw my way.
I even tried to rescue some beautiful fig bushes at the wrong time of year. They all died...but only because the owner chopped them all up and threw them in a huge pile and left them to sit out then called me to come and get them before the trash man did. You should have seen my car...dirt and mud everywhere...LOL. I still feel sad when I think about the dead figs. I think it was a sin to kill those beautiful fig trees that produced food for the birds and many jars of jelly and fiber and all those wonderful things.
Guess I wandered. Those things happen purely accidentally. Hee hee.
Aunt_A
April
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 2, 2008 at 12:21 AM: Ahhh, April. We must be kindred souls. I can't just let a plant die, either.
I do appreciate your words, thank you. I do love to write. And I am among the best writing companions right here. ...
Subject: I almost cried at the end!
Posted by Meredith79 (from Hudson, NH) on April 1, 2008 at 7:17 PM:This was a great article, it reminded me of plants from the ones I love and that my own love for gardening was accidental as well. My mother in law bought me a 'Peace' tea rose before she passed away. Unfortunately I've since moved and could not take it with me because at the time, it was December. I often imagine myself dressed as a burglar and going there to dig it up. Though I've never had the guts to follow through. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 1, 2008 at 7:24 PM: Thank you Meredith, I am glad you enjoyed it, even with almost tears. It brought a few tears to my eyes as well, when I was writing it.
Good luck nabbing your peace rose. Maybe you could take them something in trade. ...
Subject: Yet another wonderful story...
Posted by Bettypauze (from Victoria Harbour, ON) on April 1, 2008 at 7:00 PM:I'm telling you Shar, perhaps you should start writting professionally..you have such a way with words..can just picture your garden coming together..guess in some ways we all walk our gardens and most plants/shrubs/trees bring to light the memory of someone special..easpecially when that's how our gardens came about..through friendship of family and friends..my 'treasure' garden this year will be a 'friendship garden' started with seeds of you my DG friends....I'm just so excited..thank you for letting me dream a few minutes in yours!
Can't wait for the next story! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 1, 2008 at 7:03 PM: How sweet, Betty. Thank you. I am so glad you enjoyed it. ...
Subject: Nicely done
Posted by MistyPetals (from North Augusta, SC) on April 1, 2008 at 3:03 PM:May all your 'accidentals' continue to bring you joy. I love the story and the pics. When is the book coming to my local bookstore? Will that be Amazon or Borders?
Smiling,
Misty ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 1, 2008 at 4:30 PM: Ha! Thank you Misty. Nice to hear from you. ... Posted by SW_gardener (from Southern Ontario
(Canada)) on April 1, 2008 at 4:36 PM: I agree, very nice artical! Thanks for taking the time to write it!
Steven ...
Subject: What a wonderful article.
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on April 1, 2008 at 1:08 PM:Thanks so much for sharing your "accidental" experiences. What a wonderful garden you have an all by accident! Great job! ... Posted by GranvilleSouth (from Sydney
(Australia)) on April 1, 2008 at 3:08 PM: Thanx for the read. You have a beautiful wisteria there, even if it was an accident. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 1, 2008 at 4:29 PM: Thank you both. I am glad you enjoyed. I do love the wisteria and find that this one is not very invasive, unlike some of them. ...
Subject: Thanks for the Smile!
Posted by darius (from Appalachian Mtns, VA) on April 1, 2008 at 10:22 AM:Sharon, how lovely it feels to start this day off with a smile, thanks to your 'accidental garden'! ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on April 1, 2008 at 11:41 AM: Nice sentiments, Sharon. Very true how we associate plants with people or times or events. It's like a living diary. Thanks. ... Posted by KaperC (from No. San Diego Co., CA) on April 1, 2008 at 1:12 PM: How wonderful to have something your great-grandmother watched grow and how lucky we are that your 'accident' happened. :-) ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 1, 2008 at 1:27 PM: Thank you so much. I am glad you enjoyed it. It is nice to have all the memories that my garden brings to mind.
I have thought about moving from this house that is wayyyy too big for just me and my cats, but I don't think I can leave all these memories behind. ... Posted by Fitsy (from Hayesville, NC) on April 7, 2008 at 1:28 PM: An important dimension of gardening, to me, is growing
plants from friends, and ever being reminded of the friends.
Thank you for the lovely article.
Fitsy ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 7, 2008 at 2:34 PM: Thank you for reading it. I was working in my gardens today, and with every weed I pulled I realized I was pulling weeds from around a plant that had been given to me. I guess we do love our gardens as much for the memories as for the beauty, Fitsy. Thank you.
Sharon ...
Subject: Been there, done that... LOL
Posted by podster (from Deep East Texas, TX) on April 1, 2008 at 6:55 AM:Ahhh too true but beware... I never had trouble with some of these plants till DGrs said they were difficult. Now, they are struggling under my care ~ LOL
Fun article, thanks! Good luck with the roses... ... Posted by catmad (from Pelzer, SC) on April 1, 2008 at 10:10 AM: I've always found that if i put it in the ground, water it, and then forget about it, it does fine. When I try to "take care" of something, it is doomed. Doomed I say. Doomed.
Sigh :) ... Posted by LTilton (from Glen Ellyn, IL) on April 1, 2008 at 12:18 PM: Say, Sharon, is the daylily in your author photo one you know the name of? ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 1, 2008 at 12:24 PM: That daylily, Lois, is a painting I did of one of my garden daylilies. I don't remember which one it was because it has been a couple of years. I can and will find it, though.....and will let you know. I have several that are dark red, the variation is in the size and the throat color. My painting might not show very well, but in this one the throat is a sort of chartreuse color. ... Posted by roybird (from Santa Fe, NM) on April 1, 2008 at 8:37 PM: Enjoyed your article. When I look at my garden I also see gifts from friends, some of whom have passed away. I have day lilies, egyptian onions, violets and Jupiter's beard from old friends. The best plants seem to come in that way or by birds. I have a black currant bush, virginia creeper and an unidentified tree courtesy of those birdies! But, roses you have just got to have any way you can! ...
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