Raiding the old garden
A toasty 80 degrees (26.6 C) yesterday dropped by fifty degrees overnight. Today it’s blustery and sunny in the 50s (11 C), and central Austin may get its first freeze tonight. Of course, the warm weather yesterday lured me to the nurseries, where I picked up another ‘Radrazz’ rose, two ‘Adagio’ miscanthus grasses, a small Texas mountain laurel, and a ‘Blue Ice’ Arizona cypress for the back garden. (I’m not doing anything to the front just now while I concentrate on the back—exactly the opposite of how I made my former garden. Still for sale, by the way. Hey, NPR reported this morning that interest rates may drop below 5%. Anyone in the market for a lovely house and colorful, xeric garden that’s hosted a passel of fabulous garden bloggers at the 2008 Spring Fling? It’s a great time to buy!)
Ahem. Er, what was my point? Oh yes, buying plants. I was also looking for some sparkler sedge to brighten up the shady beds under the live oaks and a softleaf yucca to add structure by the roses, but the nurseries either didn’t have them or only in sizes too expensive to afford.
So I did what any rational gardener would have done. I went by the old garden and raided it again, lifting a sparkler sedge that used to reside under the cedar elm. I plan to go back tomorrow and raid the front garden for the softleaf yucca I need.
If anyone does want our former house, they’d better get it while there are still plants left in the garden. Heh heh.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Hi Pam, what a funny post. Your old garden is so full of jewels that can be plucked without a loss of the overall design. Do it! Think of it as a free shopping spree. Surely they will start making the banks lend to homebuyers and your house will be snapped up. In the meantime you are being very frugal by taking what you rightfully own to the new place. I am jealous of even 50 degree weather, we are still unseasonably cold.
Frances
Well, it’s full of a lot fewer jewels than it used to have. 😉 There’s certainly a feeling of glee in being able to pick up a few plants for free at the old garden. And then a few more. And then a few more. —Pam
Still no frost? That’s enviable! I don’t blame you at all for raiding your former gardens!
I do hope your former home sells quickly for you. Perhaps the market will pick up with all the new economic teams in place to put together recovery plans.
Cameron
From your lips to the market’s ear, Cameron. Meanwhile, we may be getting that first frost tonight, but I think it will be light. —Pam
Hi Pam, if I lived in Austin, I would so go buy your old house, as long as you left an Agave or two. 🙂 Thanks for the link love. Spring Fling was unbelievable, and you were so nice to have us. I’m praying a wonderful gardener who loves Xeriscaping will buy your beautiful abode.~~Dee
I would leave a few agaves for you, Dee! I had such fun reliving Spring Fling memories through your post. I’m looking forward to the next one. Aren’t you? —Pam
Pam, I wish I knew someone who was house hunting in that area. I think you’ve been remarkably and commendably circumspect in removing plants from the old garden!
I’m getting less circumspect every day, Cindy. 😉 But by taking plants with me, at least I know they’re going to a good home, right? —Pam
Hey Pam, I would be raiding it, too…it is the best season to transplant and divide;-) I would be gardening in the back first, too. Your pool is there, the fantastic limestone…it is a canvas waiting for your creativity. The perfect gardener for your old home will arrive. gail
That would be great, Gail, but I’d be pleased to sell it to any non-gardener too. 🙂 You are right—the right person will come along sooner or later. Until then, I’ll be quietly raiding. —Pam
Pam: I wish you luck in the house sales. But the garden is providing a great source of plant material for your new garden! Yes it is a great time to buy, we are still waiting for our loan for our new house which is already 1/4 finished. If we had only known we would have put in the application two months earlier. Here the interest rate is still 8.5 or 9. I wish I had money to pick up some of those undervalued stocks!
Yes, the old garden is my own personal nursery at this point. Good luck navigating your own house travails. I bet you’re excited about the new house. Will you be starting over with a brand-new garden too? —Pam
Your former home would be a great Christmas present for some family. I don’t blame you for raiding your former garden. You never know. The new owners may not be gardeners and they might think
they don’t want all of those plants to take care of.
I keep justifying my raids with that very thought, Lisa. 😉 —Pam
I just picked up a pup of this lovely agave (pictured in Pam’s post) off the sidewalk. Why do people insist on pulling plants up and just tossing them around? Strange. Anyways, I want to pot it up and grow it out a little; any suggestions for congenial companions? Anyone?
What a lucky find. Let’s see, what doesn’t go with a potted agave? 😉 If you want to stick with xeric plants, a couple of differently shaped cacti or succulents would be nice, perhaps something columnar. How about ‘Sticks on Fire’ euphorbia and a purple ‘Santa Rita’ opuntia? I’ve also found that agaves set off billowing, fine-textured plants beautifully, especially salvias and herbs. Also roses look great next to them. Really, what doesn’t? Enjoy! —Pam
Nice shots!
Thanks, Kristi. —Pam
You do make me laugh – every time I check in on your blog you have been going back and taking plants from the old garden!! Do you think you are in danger of replicating the old garden in the new? or are you using th plants in a totally different way?
That’s a good question, Helen. My conditions are so different now that I don’t think it would be possible to replicate my old cottage garden even if I wanted to, which I don’t. But making a new garden reminds me of that old marriage saying: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. I don’t know about the borrowed part, but the rest seems good. I want the iconic plants from my old garden to make the new one feel like it’s mine. —Pam
I have such fond memories of your lovely former house and garden, Pam and wish the right person would come along to host more parties at Green Hall https://www.penick.net/digging/?p=411.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
That would be great. I hope so too, Annie. Thanks for your sweet comment. —Pam
Pam, maybe you should update your listing to let people know of the Historical Event that took place at your that house and garden. That appeals to some, to own a piece of history. No more transplanting here. Brrrr, it’s cold, winter is here!
That old garden does have a bit of history in it, doesn’t it? What fun memories. Stay warm, Carol, and enjoy Stage 2 of your indoor gardening. —Pam
I think you’d feel worse not raiding the garden and seeing some non-gardener show a complete disregard for what was growing there. Which is what usually happens. If, by chance, a gardener does move in, well, I’m sure you can give them a start of something or other, and pass along a list of the best places to shop for plants!
I like the way you think, Kathy! Those are just the sorts of rationalizations I’ve been using when I make a raid. Better to take plants with me than see them on the curb later. 😉 —Pam
So many people feeling the effects of the real estate market. I hope you sell it soon. At least you can go back and raid the garden. I know I’d be doing the exact same thing myself!
Brenda
I was prepared to leave most of it behind when I thought we might make a quick sell. But the longer we wait for a buyer, the more tempting all those plants look. But this is the last raid. Really. Except maybe next week…. —Pam
I so understand the temptation. Besides you still own it, lock, stock and barrel until the loan officer sings.
Yes, indeed. Plus, they miss me. —Pam
Sigh. Well I going to buy it, just before you stole that sparkler sedge. I dunno, that was a deal-breaker. 😉
Truthfully, though, if I were in Austin, I’d probably run right over and claim the old garden and house!
Darn, I was afraid of that! Don’t worry, Susan, I am happy to replace it. 😉 —Pam
Pam: Glad to hear you are adding some stalwart regulars from the old garden to the new garden. Continuity of planting and all. My daughter is looking for a house but that commute would be killer!
Ah well. A killer commute is a deal-breaker. 😉 —Pam
Please, what is the name of the sparkler sedge that sparkles in the shade? I have lots of shade and do need something else to lighten that area.
I read your blogs with a great deal of delight. Thanks for the effort.
Well, thanks, Sally! And thank you for visiting and taking the time to leave a comment. The sparkler sedge is Carex phyllocephala ‘Sparkler’ from Japan. Here’s a link. —Pam
if i had to say goodbye to my garden I’d do it just the way you are doing it: take it with me. lol.
irena
Unlike when you die, when you move you can take it with you. 😉 —Pam
I’m sorry your house hasn’t sold, but the upside is that you have two gardens! 🙂
I wouldn’t publicize this plant-raiding too much. All those other Austin gardeners might get some ideas. And most of them probably know where your old house is.
My dad and his siblings inherited a house they all very much want to sell, but can’t in this market. Sympathy for everyone.
What a good name for a blog: Two Gardens. Wait, that sounds familiar…
Hmm, you are right about those plant-crazed Austin garden bloggers. They do know where I live. I’ll have to keep a close eye on my remaining garden—and what shows up on their blogs. 😉 —Pam
I would love to buy your house! I can take the heat, but I’m just not sure if I can tolerate the humidity you have there. Plus, there’s the little problem of not being able to sell my current house here in the Phoenix area. The real estate market here probably won’t recover for several years. We have one of the worst RE markets and foreclosure rates in the US right now.
Aiyana
How I wish you could, Aiyana. Then I’d not only know the old garden was in good hands, I’d get to see it improved upon by a wonderful gardener and I’d gain a new gardening friend too. —Pam
Sticks on fire…I love it! Now maybe another warmish sprinkly plant…lantana, perhaps? Thanks Pam, you’re the bestest.
You’re welcome! —Pam