Ever glad wishes DON'T always come true?

14 years ago

Yesterday I was organizing next to the computer, tossing out old papers and sticky notes (do I have sticky notes!). I came across this old sketch, a garden design. I must have made it the first year or two I started gardening. Boy, was it HORRIBLE. I had drawn a wall, made with those stackable blocks, about eight feet long in the area where I now have my shade garden. It wasn't even a circular wall, but more like a squiggle. In one curve I had wedged a bench, and at the other there was a Hibiscus (what is up with that?!). From the picture, there also seems to be reason to beleive that I was going to put a 2 1/2 foot pond at the other end of the wall.

This has to be one of my 'What Was I THINKING' moments. I am so glad I never followed thru with this plan.

Have there ever been plans that fell to the wayside that you are glad of? What are you thankful for not doing in your garden?

CMK

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Comments (8)

token28001
14 years ago
I'm glad I didn't chop down any more trees on purpose. Losing two in the past two years has opened up the back yard more than I wanted. And I'm really glad I didn't build the raised beds in the gully two weeks ago. I had planned to start tearing out bushes and privet the day I hurt my leg. Now I'm thinking I like having that area as a naturalized space. I've laid in bed many days watching the birds back there. They'll enjoy the space more than I will. And it saves me a bunch of work.
treelover
14 years ago
I've been thinking about this off and on all day. Maybe it's just my poor memory, but I really can't think of anything that I ever considered doing in the garden that I'm thankful I didn't do.

Generally, when I have a garden related idea, I jump right on it and get it done asap. So I could make a long list of things I've done and wish I hadn't--and lots that I'm happy I did, too. But happy I didn't do? I don't know . . .

There's one thing I haven't done (yet), that I have mixed feelings about. A mulberry tree was one of the few things growing in my yard when we bought the place, and I can tell it's going to end up too big for the area where it was planted. I've considered cutting it down the past several years cause it's shading things that need sun, but I hate to remove anything that provides shade over the lawn. If I do keep it I'll probably make a pollard out of it, even though I hate deforming a tree like that. But if we keep having dry summers like the past two, I may eventually be thankful I haven't taken it out.
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holleygarden Zone 8, East Texas
14 years ago
Like Treelover, I usually have things I did then wish I hadn't. The one thing I can think of that I didn't do and am glad I didn't is move the crepe myrtle from my back yard. At one time I really, really wanted to move it but didn't dare tell DH (he hasn't forgiven me for cutting down the smoketree in front) - so it never got moved. Now, I LOVE looking out my back window and seeing this beautiful thing in bloom. I have even put a bench underneath it. It makes me smile every time I look out there. :)
traceyc
14 years ago
I'm in the middle of redesigning and extending garden beds (again) and I'm reaaaallly glad I didn't cement the brick edgers in! I suspect this won't be the last time I move them!
christinmk z5b eastern WA
Original Author
14 years ago
Tom's answer reminded me that I am glad I did not have more trees taken out too. A few years ago I had this guy come to cut some trees down. I had to get rid of them because of a nasty neighbor who did not like branches comming over a few inches on his side. To put a fence up several trees had to be taken down. The guy also wanted to take out the red twig dogwood and a few maples (which I love), although they were not hanging over. Thankfully I was able to tell him no before they were all cut down. I am so glad, because the yard really wouldn't be the same without them there.
CMK
lavender_lass
14 years ago
Hi CMK,

I'm very glad we were too busy this year to put in a big vegetable garden. I was sure I wanted a potager and my husband was going to help me dig out the grass. Now, after reading more, talking to friends and getting all of your advice on the forums, I have a different plan in mind.

I'm still having a garden, more of a rustic potager mixed with big beds for corn and potatoes. Next to that garden, I'm planning to put in an herb garden with roses in the corners and a round center bed. It will fit my space much better and be a lot less mowing in between beds. After the fight I've had with the grasses (there are several kinds) this year, I will have to edge everything or spend most of my time digging out grass. I am so glad I had to wait a year!
prairiegirlz5
14 years ago
LL~You reminded me again that I was going to try marketing bouquets of cut flowers at our local farmers market this summer. After lay-offs, and related financial difficulties ie. bills, bills, and more bills, medical emergencies, etc. the garden become my one sure source of pleasure and solace. We had so much rain, but not enough heat, so the few tomatoes we had didn't ripen.I did have sense enough to pick them and ripen them inside the house. Sigh. There's always next year! :)
lavender_lass
14 years ago
I think selling flowers at the farmers market is a great idea! What a nice way to tie together something you love to do with some extra money. I think everyone is looking for ways to do that.

I'm sorry about your tomatoes, but at least they'll ripen in the house. We had a lot of heat this year, but our growing season is so short, my tomatoes are still green...just starting to get a little gold on them.

Where on the prairie are you? I used to live in South Dakota and my cousins live in Kansas :)

Ever glad wishes DON'T always come true?

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Ever glad wishes DON'T always come true?

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