Magic hour in Montecito is twilight. This patio with gas fire pit awaits a cool evening while the colorful perennial border of teucrium and nepeta entertains with subtle blues and pinks and purples. In the back of the flower bed, cheerful Shasta Daisies rise up to greet you interspersed with Citrus and Lemon Verbena.
To be a gardener is to be an optimist and being an optimist is a good thing. Who would you rather spend time with: Someone who complains about how bad it all is or someone who can find the good in any situation? Me, I like optimists, I guess that’s why I like gardeners.
To be a gardener is to be optimistic and to look forward to the next season and to envision all the wonders that will unfold in the next week, next month, next year. Gardening is a learning experience, each day, each year I learn more about what works, what doesn't and make plans of what I will do next.
Shasta Daisy, lemon verbena, pink pentas and citrus fill this garden with joyfull color, fragrance and beauty
But when I'm talking about gardeners being optimists, I am not referring to the “gardeners” who blow dust around, destroying topsoil, making balls and cubes out of every plant in sight and raking up all the beautiful mulch and leaves. I am talking about real gardeners, those who nurture plants and love nothing more than spending time in the garden.
In a real gardener’s hands a garden thrives, looking better and better, year after year. The soil is nurtured also, with layers of compost and mulch it is dark, soft and full of life. A real gardener is a lover of life and a creator of beauty. A real gardener is an artist of the earth.I love that real gardeners are always up to some project or another. There are number of people I know who are continually working on improvements to their property; moving plants around, building raised beds, using their tractors to create berms and swales, laying mulch and just having fun.
This cat knows a good garden when she finds one, look at that beautiful layer of mulch and the beautiful roses love it too.
That is what I mean when I say gardeners are optimists. These people are so much fun to be around because of the unbridled enthusiasm, creativity and optimism. As I sit here in my office looking out upon my beautiful garden I hear the sounds of a leaf blower in the distance and it is so loud and annoying that it is overshadowing the lovely tinkling of my fountain and the singing of birds in my most delightful oasis. Sorry folks, using a leaf blower is not gardening. It is abuse.
Pearl loves her garden as much as her owner. Raised beds supply a variety of herbs. Pink pentas and Shasta Daisy leap up from the back of the bed behind the border of nepeta and teucrium. The meandering path leads to another fire pit under a pergola and sitting area.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Force yourself out into your garden. Plant some fruit trees, a vegetable garden or even some flowers or succulents. Just do it and you may discover that your attitude toward life improves. It’s pretty hard to be on a bummer when you’re playing with your plants and flowers. Not to imply that you are on a bummer, but I think you know what I mean.
Until next time, Fill your garden with joy (not leaf blowers). xo Lisa
How can you resist this look? Get out in your garden with your kids, your dogs, cats and friends. They will thank you.