My Perfect Garden

by Patty Lee

I�m a dreamer in a cash crunch. I have my perfect garden all set out in my mind.

Every yard, if you live in the city, has a fence and a gate. My perfect garden will also have a fence and a gate, but it won�t be one of those chain link ones or even a wooden one. I want a black wrought iron fence and gate � you know, one of those lovely ornate types with the filigree work.

I�ll still need a place to store the gardening tools, but instead of just a plain ol� garden shed, I�ll have a wooden shed that is designed and painted to resemble an English cottage. It will even have window boxes overflowing with purple trailing verbena and pink / purple fuchsia.

The focal point of my garden will be a garden seat and there will be a purple lilac close by. This is where I will sit and dream. From this vantage point, I�ll be able to enjoy my yellow forsythia, the many colours of tulips, and the pink wygelias as spring awakens the garden. Then, as summer begins, there will be my 5 roses bushes to adore. Midsummer�s heat will bring the many annuals to life � marigolds, salvia, snapdragons and the rest. At last, la piece de resistance, the Rose of Sharon bushes, now as big as trees, will bloom their little hearts out for me and for anyone else who wants to join me on my garden seat.

I know that purists don�t like to see a riot of colour, but for me, the more colours the better I like it. And I so enjoy the many different textures of leaves, so I will also have ornamental grasses and ferns peeking out here and there.

What is it about the sound of trickling water? It seems to soothe the soul. I will definitely want to keep my fish pond and waterfall in my perfect garden. My three goldfish may not be the most prestigious of the fish world, but I have yet to see one visitor not enjoy watching their antics as we take turns feeding them treats of store-bought fish food.

I won�t ignore the birds either. For them, I will set out birdbaths and birdfeeders. And there will be trees large enough for them to nest in. What�s a garden without God�s creatures?

As far as I�m concerned, the brown rabbit, who is now a frequent visitor, can eat all the lettuce it wants, I enjoy its company so much. My husband is not so tolerant. He planted that lettuce and is not so easily enamoured by this greedy bunny.

My grandfather had one of those tall white arbours in his garden as I recall. And it was just covered in climbing roses. In the summer, a walk in his garden was a joy beyond comparison. There were roundish stepping stones forming paths, and everywhere you looked, there was a new floral discovery. That�s what I want my perfect garden to be.

I know that in my mind is probably the only place my perfect garden will ever be, but perhaps I will at least see and enjoy bits of my dream here and there when I go on our city�s Annual Garden Walk next Sunday afternoon. I hope to see you there.

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Patty Lee is the manager of HerIdeas, a delightful place for crafters and hobbyists. Come learn a new craft or perfect an old one. Visit us at http://www.herideas.com Twice a month, enjoy reading new craft tricks, gardening helps, dollmaking tips, seasonal recipes, and much more. Subscribe to the HerIdeas Newsletter at [email protected]