My main garden is in a rural area, with just about any kind of wildlife that gnaws... especially deer, rabbits, woodchucks, and coons. I use chicken wire low to keep out the rabbits, and several strands of electric fencing above that to keep out deer. Without that protection, a country garden is a waste of time. Electric fencing works best as a deterrent, to discourage animals from getting in the first time. If they get in & like what they find, it may be difficult to keep them from coming back for seconds... and thirds... and fourths... I purchased mine at a local Farm & Fleet. One of the employees helped me make sense of the "joules" ratings, and to handle persistent herbivores, recommended a fence rated to keep out predators. It's got quite a kick; the deer get bit once, and seldom try again. I keep the fence on from sunset to sunrise, and have had no coon damage except for one year when I was late running the wire (I take it down in Spring for tilling). My first charger lasted 10 years, and protected a 100' X 100' garden, so I think I got my money's worth.

DIRECTIONS TO COTTON-ARBO RETUM 597 Washington St. Winchester Ma. 01890 From the North: Take Rt 93 south (or from Rt. 128 to Rt 93 south, go 1 exit): Exit at Montvale Ave. /Stoneham. At end of ramp, turn right, turn left at Citgo Gas station (1st light) onto Washington St.. Look at your odometer. Go 0.6 miles, just past a strip of parkland on your left, and turn left onto Sunset Rd. and park. Walk back to Washington St., turn left and walk down 1st driveway on your left. This is the best entry to the Cotton-Arbo retum. **** PLEASE COME VISIT THE GARDENS **** **AT THE COTTON-ARBO RETUM IN WINCHESTER** The 21 year old Cotton-Arbo retum is located around a residential property in Winchester. Wishing to share the gardens with everyone,the owners have opened them permanently to the public 24/7 May through October of each year. The gardens are made up of a series of intensely planted garden rooms, linked by a series of sunken paths, ponds and waterfalls. Foliage guides the aesthetic, with great emphasis on Japanese maples, conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs. Herbaceous peonies and non-bearded iris have a strong presence in the perennials, accompanied by thousands of varieties of perennials, vines and ornamental grasses. There is a rustic shade hut and five waterfalls and ponds with sitting areas. With the changes in foliage and flowers, the gardens look quite different every two weeks or so. Peak bloom times are May, Mid June and September.The gardens were created to provide a beautiful quiet respite for everyone to enjoy. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch, or a book, or a dog (we love animals)!! We are often working in the gardens and are happy to answer questions. The Cotton-Arbo retum is open to the public, sunrise to sunset, daily, May through October. 597 Washington St. 01890 ***Remember: OPEN EVERY GATE!!! Nothing is private except the house.*** ~ The Way To Have What We Want Is To Share What We Have ~ PAST AND PRESENT IN THE COTTON-ARBO RETUM We moved to Winchester and began this garden 21 years ago. Aside from an evergreen hedge, and various mature maples, nothing that you now see - was here.There were no fences and the back of our property was a wild woodland of junk trees and scrub. We began our landscape design by laying out garden beds that were visible from key viewpoints in our house. After three years of intense garden development, our gardens were awarded the "Best in Show" prize in a competition sponsored by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and Boston Magazine. For our prize, we were sent to Holland, where, at Trompenberg, we discovered the wonderful world of conifers. This life-changing experience took us out of our perennials focus and raised our vision, literally and figuratively, so that we began to emphasize the' bones' of our gardens- with conifers, shrubs and trees. Visually, we like to play flowers off their surrounding foliage, with an emphasis everywhere on the foliage itself. As we and the gardens have grown older, we have come to realize that perennial beds are the most labor intensive of gardening, and that , while a perennial's flowers often last only 2 weeks, the foliage of shrub, vine and tree- lasts the entire gardening year- 3 seasons.The differences in foliage are like the differences in a person's fingerprints- innumerable! Size, shape, color, texture, variegation, smell, light reflectiveness, movement- all contribute to our fascination with foliage! If this is your first visit, you will be surprised how different the gardens look from one week to the next. In the spring, perennials are short, there are many empty spots, and the gardens have a much more open feeling. You can see from one area to the next. In the summer, plants grow taller and fill in so that the various gardens become their own 'garden rooms'. Fences disappear and flowering vines ramble over railings, shrubs, obelisks and arbors. By September, the plants are at their tallest, highlighted by the many ornamental grasses. Design elements we hope you will notice: The repetetive use of purple, yellow, blue and variegated foliage in providing continuity and in keeping the view lively; The role of varying plant heights in a garden bed; The role of varying garden levels and sunken paths in providing a sense of intimacy and privacy;The role of hidden elements and glimpses of vistas - in drawing you into the various garden areas; The role of water elements; The roles of garden art and architecture. We are so glad you have come to share our gardens. Please bring friends and come back often. **And remember- When you see a gate, open it and explore!!** Every gate takes you to a new garden area. Nothing is private except the house. The Way To Have What We Want Is To Share What We Have

Yes, Dido--I am familiar with that poem and have taught it many times in the past--but strangely enough, had forgotten it. Thank you for reminding me. Impressive imagery. It chokes me up--the old lie! Since we are on anti-war poems, here are a couple more that I used to teach along with Owen. The Jarrell poem--WWII-- leaves us gasping because it is pure horrifying image with no commentary. The shortest and maybe most realistic war poem I know--and a fitting postscript to Owen: "The old Lie: dulce et decorum est/ Pro patria more." The second one--WWI poem--, with its repetitions and wandering, circling thoughts that take us no where but leave us caught in an endlessly pointless repeating maze, also leaves us gasping with its final pointed question--what are "patterns" for? The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner By Randall Jarrell From my mother's sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. Patterns By Amy Lowell I walk down the garden paths, And all the daffodils Are blowing, and the bright blue squills. I walk down the patterned garden-paths In my stiff, brocaded gown. With my powdered hair and jewelled fan, I too am a rare Pattern. As I wander down The garden paths. My dress is richly figured, And the train Makes a pink and silver stain On the gravel, and the thrift Of the borders. Just a plate of current fashion, Tripping by in high-heeled, ribboned shoes. Not a softness anywhere about me, Only whalebone and brocade. And I sink on a seat in the shade Of a lime tree. For my passion Wars against the stiff brocade. The daffodils and squills Flutter in the breeze As they please. And I weep; For the lime-tree is in blossom And one small flower has dropped upon my bosom. And the plashing of waterdrops In the marble fountain Comes down the garden-paths. The dripping never stops. Underneath my stiffened gown Is the softness of a woman bathing in a marble basin, A basin in the midst of hedges grown So thick, she cannot see her lover hiding, But she guesses he is near, And the sliding of the water Seems the stroking of a dear Hand upon her. What is Summer in a fine brocaded gown! I should like to see it lying in a heap upon the ground. All the pink and silver crumpled up on the ground. I would be the pink and silver as I ran along the paths, And he would stumble after, Bewildered by my laughter. I should see the sun flashing from his sword-hilt and the buckles on his shoes. I would choose To lead him in a maze along the patterned paths, A bright and laughing maze for my heavy-booted lover, Till he caught me in the shade, And the buttons of his waistcoat bruised my body as he clasped me, Aching, melting, unafraid. ...

These are all plants that have been in full sun or are in ground somewhere in the garden. It is survival of the fittest here. Even the variegated ones seem to be pulling through (mostly). Noid Lemon Lime with Socal suntan Noid has red branches Noid ... Hobbit? One of many clones originally started at my parents when I was a teen. You know that's old. This is probably 8' across and 6' high. It needs to be trimmed up and adopted. For scale on trunk of a medium size Gollum I started off of one of the larger ones about 10 years ago.