The writing will come later tonight, when the house is quiet.
Earlier today I did some repotting of plants in the front courtyard. When we moved out of our rental house a year ago, it was hard to leave a first native garden. It wasn’t very big but it was our first. So in a fit of attachment disorder anxiety I potted up whatever I could to take with me. The intention isn’t to have a courtyard full of native plants (and actually it will be the one place that I plant the exotics) but for now it has become the nursery because it is easier to take care of them all together in one place.
It’s a mess because I just tossed things in the few pots we had on hand together so there are tons of things that really need their own pot. There are several pots of hummingbird sage with multiple plants to be divided. Some buckwheat. blue-eyed grass, a bit of black sage and a few more plants that I can’t remember and have to look up.
Today I tackled just one plant Dichondra (the type of which is in question.) A few years ago Erin at Native Revival gave me a little 4″ pot of this when I asked her for something to grow between stepping stones that could take light foot traffic. It was the most forgiving of plants at the old house. I planted it between stepping stones in full sun, gave it water and it took off. When there was a plumbing problem and the drain guy dug up a bunch of it and just dumped it in a pile and basically buried it, it found its way to the top of the pile.
It was the last plant I went back to grab before we moved. There was just this one clay pot and I dug up a chunk and left it alone. It filled the pot in no time. This morning I divided it into 15 small pots. It doesn’t look like much now, but you have to imagine a blanket of it on the ground – lushness all around. Trust me. It will be good.
I would rather be doing the actual planting in the ground but at least this helped me feel a bit more connected to the garden. And perhaps, a little bit more like the main character in my WIP.
It’s beautiful and so dainty-looking 🙂 I’m glad you could bring so many of your friends with you.
I have to admit that I have a thing for moss. So far, I’ve only been able to id a couple of the wild ones that grow in our woods – reindeer and fox tail. There’s also a fuzzy one that grows in little round clumps. I need a book. Do you have a place in your story for moss? 🙂
Thanks! I love moss too though I am not sure what kinds are native around here. If I have native moss, there’s a place for it. 🙂
Otherwise I can have it be the slippery kind that used to grow between the bricks at our old place and you had to be careful you didn’t fall and crack your head open. 🙂
Did you see my bird post on Friday? I thought of you when I posted it.
Yes, I did, and meant to tell you that I loved the pictures! We were overtaken by events and I never got back to your blog for that day. Finches are such nice birds. They have such sweet dispositions and are so polite, unlike starlings who push and shove and are just over the top in every way. Again, great pictures 🙂
It does, doesn’t it? The leaves don’t get quite as big but the shape is there.
It has been a garden kind of day for you.
I loved your bird report.
Your commentary/voice overs are wonderful.
Oh, yes, I know Plant Kid was lurking around. May you keep each other good company in the garden and at the computer!
I love that you’re working on the garden and the Plant Kid book at the same time. Such great synchronicity.
Thanks. When I first conceived Plant Kid I was thinking he’d be doing things in his yard the same way and time I would be doing things. I hope it can continue.