TURN OVER A NEW LEAF

Many of us who have been gardening for a while, are very comfortable; is that a good thing? We've planned, observed and established what works easily in our garden spots. Friends visit and see what has grown into a regular success. Maybe it's time to 'step out on a limb', to 'grow yourself', to 'Turn Over a New Leaf Form!!'.

Think about avenues in gardening you haven't trod, or things that were not such a success in your early efforts. What about going, in small ways, where 'no gardener-in-you has gone before? Try adding a water feature. This could be as small as a free standing fountain or a small pond or a pondless waterfall. These have multiple benefits in drawing butterflies and other fauna. How about picking up a copy of the publication "Rock Gardening in Oklahoma" at the Extension Center and create your own xeriscape; maybe even a small alpine garden. Do you have that hot, dry wall that cooks anything you plant. A simple succulent garden, either hardy or with buried pots of nonhardy plants. This could take you to new heights, literally, as in a raised surface, or figuratively in experimenting with off the wall dressings, stones of varied or mono-color, various size mixes and accents. These have the added advantage of being very low maintenance. How about a man(or woman)-created alcove to shelter a petite shade garden, either small for viewing as passing-by or large enough to be interactive with a couple of inviting seating spots to share the cool shade. Many garden forms can have a multitude of attractions in one bed. Think on this: a small curving butterfly garden, one side edged with a stone seat wall, the other with a rail fence for support or protection for taller food source plants for the butterflies, ending it's graceful arc in a mound of accent, perhaps a single cover planting with a figurine or two set upon it's height. You may want to go really off the wall, do what I'm trying to coin as a gardening phrase, "dispersal gardening". Intermingle various single or groups of edible vegetable plants throughout your established beds. The little accents would take care if themselves, would not require any extra weeding, and would allow you to hand pick some rewards without giving up prime real estate through half of the year, with a mostly barren dirt patch where the 'garden is going next spring'.

Think on these a a way to truly turn to "A New Leaf Form". Expand your experiences, learn new disciplines, and give visitors something new to marvel at. Grow Your Mind.

Freddy Hill, MG, '02.