Plant pity vs great design

17 years ago

Hi everyone,

I recently moved in to a new-for-me garden (not the lush overgrown type I always dream of, but still, with some "inherited" plants). Some I've ripped out, some I definitely am keeping, and some I'm not sure about.

That's reminded me of this, and previous gardens, where fondness or pity for a plant, makes me keep it, even though it keeps my overall design less than perfect (I've currently got two hydrangeas that were totally flattened during some house de-construction work, but I've also had/inherited other plants too that I kept out of nostalgia, or no better conditions for them, that worked against my general design).

What about you? Do you/have you sacrificed part (or all, lol) of your "plan" because you want to keep some plant (out of admiration, or pity, etc). I'd love to hear about it, especially as I figure out what to do with some of my new foundlings.

Thanks!

Grant

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Comments (14)

ilsa
17 years ago
I know exactly what you're talking about! I've "inherited" plants from well-meaning neighbors, "found" plants in the yard of a new (to me) house ... I just can't bear to let them go, unless I know that they're going to a good home. I've also had orphans show up on my doorstep - guess a neighbor or two feels the same way!

Do you have enough room in your landscape to create a Garden for Wayward Plants? All of those things that just don't quite fit, but you don't have the heart to pitch to the compost pile/curb?

Ilsa
natvtxn
17 years ago
I love that! wayward plants.

My friend tries to save every thing. Any piece of potulaca gets stuck in a pot.
I usually save things, but once in a while I will toss, especially if it is easily grown.
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hedgwytch
17 years ago
ROFL! I love that! What a great name for a garden! Isn't odds-n-ends what makes us cottage gardeners? LOL! I've got tons of "found" and "passalong" plants. I tuck them in here and there. That's how great planting discoveries are found. I love going by in the spring when things are just starting to come up, and wondering, "Now, what the heck is that, and where did it come from??" I'm also notorious for going through the clearance racks at Lowe's and places like that, and picking up pots of plants for a quarter a piece. A lot of times they are either unmarked or mis-marked, so you never really know what you're getting. I guess it's my whole gardening style! LOL!

HW
crocosmia_mn
17 years ago
My next-door neighbor lets me put anything I don't want anywhere in her garden anytime -- what a deal! There is no fence, so I can still enjoy plants I like but that just don't fit in.
grant_in_seattle
Original Author
17 years ago
Hah! Fun and funny replies. I'm glad I'm not the only one who occasionally sacrifices "design" for nostalgia, pity, or plant-happiness in its current location.

I do like the idea of a "wayward plants" garden section in my garden. I'm even "visualizing" a goofy sign saying so...good idea!

Thanks for the replies.
Take care,
Grant
hedgwytch
17 years ago
yes, I'm going to have to make a sign for my yard. Right now, I'm trying to ID something that looks vaguely like the top part of a bright orange crocosmia with buds, not drooping over, coming straight out of the ground. No leaves, nothing. Maybe it is, and it's just planted too deep. I've never seen one bloom like this, though. I enjoy the surprises. Every day there's something new. My yard is like the "Island of the Misfit Plants" (borrowed that from Rudolph!) You never know what you're going to find, or where.

Oh, that reminded me of a great example of plant pity vs. great design. I finally ripped out my Greek Mullein (Verbascum Olympicum) this past week. When I moved, I was digging up plants. There were these 2 cute little velvety green flat rosette plants in an odd spot. Had no idea what they were or where they came from. Obviously they were something, though. I dug them up and planted them in the front of my big bed across the front of the house. The first year, nothing. Last year, they got about a foot tall and made their little candelabra thingies. This year, they shot up to 6+ feet with the same diameter, maybe larger, and tons of yellow evening primrose looking flowers. Very pretty and fragrant at night, but such a monstrosity in the front bed!!! They finally got past their prime, and had to go. I will miss them, and will look for babies springing up, so I can move them to the BACK of the border, somewhere. DH is sooo glad they finally got yanked! LOL!

HW
Chris_in_the_Valley
17 years ago
I usually put white impatiens by the back door - nice, low, and good for the north side of the house. This year I noticed that the cardinal lobelia had self seeded in the area. I am incapable of pulling cardinal lobelia out, I love it so very much. So now I have it growing up to my shoulder at the back door. I also have perennial ageratum and black-eyed susans that I can't seem to erraticate, so I just go with it.
haziemoon
17 years ago
I'm so new to gardening......I just can't kill anything!
if it's happy and doing well it will stay...I've moved a few things, then worried I may have killed them!

I have things blow over from the neighbors untended yard,
and wait to see what it looks like in my design before I pull it out.........but it usually just gets moved! I can't kill anything yet!

I have tomatillos growing in my driveway cracks from my neighbor....and I won't let hubby park there anymore! not till I harvest them! I can't move them..so we move for them!
I have a problem........I know.........but I'm new to gardening...so I deserve a break! ahhaha

Haziemoon
fernsk
17 years ago
Having spent the spring and early part of the summer redoing my miniature space [17 x 17.5 ft] I have let my love of a cucumber plant allow it to take over my new patio. I keep telling people - as they fall over laughing at this gargantuan plant - that next year I will try to make my cuc climb an obalisk to keep it under control but for now I just cannot attack it - besides I'm getting great cucumbers from it.

I do like the idea of a Wayward plant garden - we have large courtyards in my condominium complex and whenever I plant something that doesn't quite "do it for me" I give it to the maintenance man to plant somewhere on the grounds. Maybe he and I can designate an area for Fern's wayward plants.

Fern
grant_in_seattle
Original Author
17 years ago
Great replies--keep them coming.

I worked all day in the garden yesterday and spent a lot of time maintaing around one of my new pity plants: a lilac bush.

Normally I like lilacs just fine, but this one is poorly placed and quite neglected (not to worry, I have a Lilac Rejuvenation Plan ready for next year, which will help the plant, though not its location). My inclination would normally be to remove it, but a neighbor told me it's the last lilac from the original farmhouse that used to own most of the land that became my neighborhood. Apparently there used to be a row of them as far as the eye could see. Now there's just this one.

Of course, that made me grow nostalgic so I'll keep it where it is, ruining my plan for a strictly herbacious border where it now intrudes. I'm sure once I see the blooms next spring I'll even propagate it and add a couple of others. Sigh.

So much for my "perfect" design! :)
Take care,
Grant
daisydo
17 years ago
I think all of my gardens are pity gardens with wayward plants. When I started years ago, I didn't have any design in mind, just liked color! Any color, any plant.
I have moved and replaced, dug bigger beds to accomodate
plants that family and friends give me. If I named my home, it would be "Home for wayward plants". When I take my coffee to the back porch to look it over, I think they are like my children. Bright, individuals, with a mind of their own. Not always in the right place, hanging with the right people, or fitting into the design. But I think I'll keep them!
lorinscott_1
17 years ago
Grant, what an interesting bit of history you have there in that plant....I'd have a hard time pulling it up, too. But if there's somewhere you'd like to put it, why not move it, then fashion a commemorative sign indicating its status....it'd look great.

I have many inherited plants that I've had to incorporate into our landscaping scheme. It's a challenge but I like the results.
blossomgirl
17 years ago
Daisydo---
I think just like you do:..)..my plants come from all over and it kills me when they do poorly....maternial instinct kicking in.
Grant-I am glad you kept your lilac bush. let us kow how it is doing or take pics...

Gigi
grant_in_seattle
Original Author
17 years ago
Good suggestion. The lilac is pretty darn big, so I may try moving it some day. First I'll try to rejuvenate it, and then try to pry away some suckers as insurance, and then I may just give relocation a try. I'm glad others think I should keep it. :)

I'll remind myself of that when it drives me crazy, heh heh.

Happy gardening,
Grant

Plant pity vs great design

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