The Accidental (Gardener), : Out of My Hardy “Comfort Zone”

My family and I spent 15 years in Connecticut, which for the most part, were fabulous years in terms of quality of life, friendships made, education for the boys, and careers. (The not-so-fabulous part of our life there will be the subject of future post(s).) And it was in Connecticut that my focus began to expand beyond houseplants to the great outdoors, which is somewhat ironic considering the harshness of New England winters. But perhaps it was that harshness that makes one so attuned to the first sprigs of plants coming from the ground – often through inches of snow – the first buds on trees, and the first blooms. 

There were other factors as well that contributed to my growing interest in flowering shrubs and even vegetables: Flowers grew in Connecticut that simply didn’t grow in Texas, where we had spent the previous 22 years. (At that point, I had never heard of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, much less given any thought as to the difference that temperature, soil, acidity, wildlife, and numerous other factors contribute to successful gardening! Remember, I am an “accidental gardener.”) Jasmine grew like weeds along the roadways, creating bright patches of yellow blooms around every curve. Hostas, hydrangeas, and cherry blossoms also thrived up there, plants that I grew to love but did not recognize from Texas. (In Texas, I was besotted by crepe myrtles, which also flourish here in the Southeast.) 

And then there was my best friend whose idea of therapy was to expand her flower beds, annually, if not more often, by hand. Her favorite weekend activity was to be in her backyard, spade in hand, expanding a 30-foot bed by a few inches. She then bought plants, moved plants, split plants, planted bulbs. Her back deck was a frenzy of color every summer, usually blanketed by large hibiscus trees and pots of herbs. Her love of gardening simply rubbed off on me. 

So I started along the back wall of the garage of our center hall colonial. I would buy the plants and place them, but generally our gardener would dig the holes for me. That was no easy task because our yard, and most of the town in which we lived, was built on extremely rocky soil, hence the rock walls that surrounded our properties. Little by little, I created a nice flower bed. 

I am also convinced that as soon as my hostas and day lilies would emerge each year, the deer sent an email statewide. Because the very next morning, every bloom would simply be eaten away, front and back yards. I have successfully planted nine hostas at my southern home, and am pleased to say that deer do not seem to be the same level of nuisance in this neighborhood, though I know they are in other nearby neighborhoods. The bane of my gardening existence here are the squirrels. 

It was during the Connecticut years that I wanted to try my hand at vegetables as well. Needless to say, I was a dismal failure at whatever I tried – tomatoes, squash, zucchini, etc. It became a standard family joke that I would invest some $200 per growing season and fail to get a single tomato for my efforts, even when I bought a plant already covered with blossoms. 

Gratefully, that has changed to some degree in the Southeast, as you will soon learn. I have had a modicum of success growing vegetables here, particularly herbs, lettuces and tomatoes, due in large part to the abundant rainfall and temperate climate. More to follow on my path to becoming an organic “farmer” …