Ever just run out of ideas?

14 years ago

I have a spot I need to re-arrange/fill-in, and I just can't think of what I want to do there. I am just out of ideas and motivation. Ever get like that? BAH!

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Comments (18)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
I WILL YELL ...

ABSOLUTELY NOT...

I RUN OUT OF ENERGY FOR ALL MY LAME IDEAS ...

have you ever considered allowing a spot to lie fallow ... ask yourself, oh tense one... why does the spot need to be filled ...'

ignore it!!!!!

when the muse strikes.. the spot will be there ...

gawd ... you really dont get the zen side of gardening.. do you???

glass of wine... comfy chair .... rainbird sprinkler making its chirping noise... and dwell on the beauty of the EMPTY SPOT ...

WHY DOES IT NEED TO BE FILLED???

========

more specifically:

I have a spot I need to re-arrange/fill-in, NO YOU DONT.. THE SPOT IS FINE ...

and I just can't think of what I want to do there. WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM

I am just out of ideas and motivation. RELAX

Ever get like that? BAH! NO ... I HAVE A LONGER VIEW IN REGARD TO MY GARDEN ...

OOOOOOOOHHHHHMMMMMMM ... darn wine bottle is empty....

ken

ps: say it with me... GARDENING IS MY AEROBICS AND MY THERAPY ..... you have the aerobic part down... and i am going to work on you.. until you get the therapeutic value of it down ... the empty spot is not the problem.. your psychiatric need to fill the hole is the problem.. relax ...
christinmk z5b eastern WA
14 years ago
But Ken, some of us like to get stressed out... ;-)

-mxk3, yes I get like that all the time. I have one large bed that really needs to be filled. Last year I had to cut down an apple tree that was there, which meant moving all the shady stuff I had around it. I have a hard time finding plants for full sun. If this were a shade area it would be filled up by now.

The way I get an idea is to just look at a lot of gardening mags and books. If that doesn't work I look thru plant catalogs and just pick out some plants I like the look of (and that would like the spot). Then I just work around that.

As for re-arranging, I do it constantly. I do a lot of it in spring, and make up a long list during the summer of what to move in the fall. Lists really help!
CMK
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diggerdee zone 6 CT
14 years ago
Ken, I have to ask you - and please, I assure you I am NOT being sarcastic, rude, snide, or anything like that; I am truly curious - why do you always think people are stressing out when they ask a question? Just seems like when someone asks something here the first thing you do is tell them to relax. Certainly nothing wrong with relaxing, and I'm sure we could all stand to do a bit more of it, but I was just wondering why you assume they are stressed out.

And yes, lol, at the moment I myself am QUITE relaxed, lol. No wine, unfortunately, but just got home from work, kicked off my shoes, sat in front of the fan, and have a nice glass of iced tea.

Were you at Woodstock, by any chance? :D

:)
Dee

P.S. By the way, I too usually run out of energy before I run out of ideas. Or I change my mind and then run out of motivation to change things, lol.
mori1
14 years ago
Its not that I run out of ideas, its I'm having trouble seeing it. I have an idea for rock bed sort of thing. I started to work on it but stop when I just couldn't see the end result. There is also the money issue.

I can't tell you how many times, I've moved a plant that I felt was in the wrong place.
WendyB 5A/MA
14 years ago
seems my ideas and my motivation go hand in hand. July/August hot,humid weather... I don't have much of either and that's just fine. (as its a sticky 90 here and I am in the cool a/c doin 'puter work.) I will relax later with Iced coffee though. (caffeine does relax me somehow)

If you have the motivation and need ideas, I agree with above that magazines can do it. Or try trips to garden centers. Me, being a plantaholic, if I see a plant that I really really want, I can plan a bed around it pretty easily.

Also, long ago I started a folder called "inspirations" where I stuff pictures of gardens that grab me. For e-inspirations, I save bookmarks and pictures too.

As to Ken's response, I think the maturity of the garden has something to do with this difference. As my garden matures, I am more accepting of its spots and problems. And such spots and problem areas are less noticeable the bigger and more complete the garden. Younger gardens (and gardeners?) may need more finishing than others. Sometimes we have to pay the price before we get to relax. Some have more patience than others for the end result.

Another way to think about that is that sometimes "gardening" is more about "exterior decorating" than gardening. I did that for many years. Now I am a gardener.

But empty walls in my house???!?! No way!!!
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
14 years ago
Why does the spot need to be filled? Because I *want* it filled in - that's as good a reason as any!!

I want to look out the window and see something pretty.
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
14 years ago
And BTW - Gardening is my *creative* outlet, and that of itself is relaxing. Like I said before, I don't garden to exercise, and I'm lazy about gardening chores - when it gets done it gets done, if a few plants get toasty because I don't feel like watering, if a handful of weeds spouts, oh well - mundane gardening chores aren't therapy for me, they're *chores*.

But being creative, coming up with interesting plant combinations then enjoying the fruits of my labor, being proud of what I've created? Now *that's* enjoyable for me! I thrive on the whole creative process, start to finish, it can be exhilirating when the creative juices get flowing.

(I'm not mad at you Ken - just kind of worked up because I just back from my power walk)
pitimpinai
14 years ago
Would you consider a huge sun tolerant Hosta by any chance? I am gradually replacing plants with small leaves with big, bold ones. And my Hosta 'Kossa Regal' is fits the bill. It's is 3 1/2 ft. tall. The flower stalks, though not spectacular, are 5 ft. tall.

{{gwi:250101}}
deeje
14 years ago
Oh, I get that way too, especially this time of year. Sometimes a spot will look wonderful in spring, and then by August I realize that it's Totally All Wrong.

Since this isn't the best time of year to be re-arranging, or indeed, to buy good-quality perennials, here's what I do.

* I take digital photos of the "needs something" area from all vantage points.
* I print several copies, sizing the photo to take up about half a sheet of paper.
* On the other half of the paper, I write down everything that irks me about the spot.
* I also make notes of things to check in spring. Maybe it's a clump of daffodils that now look like a big hole in the planting scheme.

And then I pull out the photos and notes in winter, when all of the catalogs start arriving. Giving the area a fresh look later, especially when I couldn't go out and plant if I *wanted to*, often inspires me.

But if it's someone ELSE's spot that needs work, I have ideas all the livelong day! Post a photo, and we'll help you brainstorm!
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
14 years ago
Ken: good thinking, grasshopper...

I am learning to take my time, do a lot of creative staring, and know that, if needed, the idea will come...

I also agree that pictures help everyone help you. I REALLY need to get a digital camera!

Cynthia
patlovesdirt
14 years ago
Just type "garden pictures" in the Search line at the bottom of this page (for perennials). You'll have a list of posts before you, all containing mouth watering pictures of the most fabulous gardens ever to behold, of all kinds and sizes. I've gotten so many ideas from this forum since I joined recently that my mind has gone berserk.

So, armed with my can of Off and my tools, I march out there with great purpose EVERY day. But, wait... It's nearly August. It's 100 out there. My plants glare at me and my shovel, and I hear them quite clearly saying, "Don't you dare even think about digging us up and moving us today." I slink back to the coolness inside, dripping with sweat, having accomplished little/nothing. Maybe tomorrow...

And Ken, (I've learned a lot from your posts - won't you be my neighbor?) You're right, of course. It's all about the zen.
diggerdee zone 6 CT
14 years ago
"...But if it's someone ELSE's spot that needs work, I have ideas all the livelong day!..."

Oh my goodness, deeje! I almost said the same thing above! Why is that? lol!

Deeje you had some good ideas on planning too. Unfortunately for me, I would start off good with that kind of system and then never follow through, at least on the paperwork/planning end. And that's my problem - poor planning.

Pat, I hear you on the good intentions - I went out this afternoon determined to get a list of things done. Goodness, it was so God-awful humid out there, I stayed in the shade and hardly moved, lol. I was quite proud of myself though because I did stick it out for a few hours. Didn't get a whole lot accomplished, but I figured it was more than I would have done sitting inside looking out the window at it, lol. Sometimes I think it's a good thing I don't have air-conditioning!

:)
Dee
woodside
14 years ago
That barren spot would irk me too...

I was just thinking I need to move a newly planted spirea vanhouttei that I planted at the edge of my woodland, not appreciating that at maturity it can span 12 feet and look poorly sited!

Now what to put in that space...
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
But being creative, coming up with interesting plant combinations then enjoying the fruits of my labor, being proud of what I've created? Now *that's* enjoyable for me! I thrive on the whole creative process, start to finish, it can be exhilarating when the creative juices get flowing.

===========

ok.. so you are beginning to understand.. WHY YOU GARDEN ....

and all you have to now work on is this part: whole creative process, start to finish,

YOUR GARDEN WILL NEVER.. EVER.. BE FINISHED ... a project yes.. a garden.. never .... the day it is.. you start over... and that is where the zen comes in ...

listen peeps.. i am just playing devils advocate... WAY TO MANY PEEPS ... do stress on this stuff...

i have dealt with her enough. over the years.. to think i may yank her chain a bit.. and perhaps.. in the process.. teach others... right mx????

IT SHOULD JUST BE ALL FUN ... it should not be stressful ...

have a great day y'all
ken
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
14 years ago
Hey, every good dog needs the chain yanked occasionally to keep it on its toes :0)
anitamo
14 years ago
I never run out of ideas, it's the funds that run out first. :) I have time, energy, empty space, ideas....
Thyme2dig NH Zone 5
14 years ago
I'm with Anitamo. It's always the funds that run out first.

I like to travel to visit various gardens and I get so many great ideas and pictures from those trips. Almost any travel I do includes gardens. This year I am working on a large area in my backyard. It truly is a "blank slate". I had some pretty decent ideas about the area and after a visit to Fordhook Farm and Chanticleer in PA I have all sorts of ideas running through my head!

I also love to see everyone's pictures on GW. I learn so much from these forums and get so many great ideas and inspiration from everyone's photos.

Now if only I can win Powerball tomorrow!
bouquet_kansas
14 years ago
Seems like we all have a brain-freeze now and then when we plan our gardens.So we go out searching for ideas to get our creative juices flowing again! Looking thru books, magazines,etc.all help plus going to a site like this one with many talented friendly gardeners to toss out ideas to us .I know that i have found new inspiration for my garden.thanx

carol

Ever just run out of ideas?

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