In the Garden with Shobha Vanchiswa

March 19, 2010

Recovering from the storms

Dear, oh dear! One major storm after another.

Can’t say for certain which one did more damage to gardens everywhere. There is the obvious mess and then there is what only time will tell. Did any plant or bulb succumb to the water torture? What root systems have been weakened? What plant diseases will show up? But enough, I cannot worry about problems that have not as yet manifested. True to my nature, I feel all will work out. Gardening has taught me that hope springs eternal.

The days that followed the rainstorm ought to have put all and sundry in the mood for spring. For one thing, all the snow has melted and the greening of the earth has begun. Fine filaments of crocus leaves are showing up in tufts like troll heads. Sunshine, new growth and birdsong: It must be spring.

The New York Botanical Garden beckons

If you haven’t as yet got into the spring mode then hurry up and get to the New York Botanical Gardens as I did a couple of weeks ago. There were snowdrops in bloom everywhere and the hellebores, not to be outdone, were nodding their pretty flowers in a come-hither sort of way.  At the time of my visit, my own garden was under two feet of snow so this sight was positively uplifting.

I also attended the Orchid Show, which for a brief time transported me to a tropical paradise. I was rudely brought back to New York when my family made it clear I was taking too long and certain stomachs were rumbling. I was particularly pleased to see the Darwin star orchid. Not because it was the prettiest but because it was by looking carefully at this flower that Darwin predicted that the pollinator of such a specimen would be an insect with a very long, fine proboscis. At the time he was not believed because such an insect had not been identified. Well, he was proven right a good deal later. What appeals to me about this great man is that he saw what was visible to everyone. But he observed carefully, questioned what he saw and gave much thought to determine the answers. His experiments were simple, elegant and easily reproduced. Just brilliant. 

Patience, patience, lest you do more harm than good in your garden

Back to reality and my own piece of earth. It is encouraging to see that the sunny weather of the last couple of days has been relieving the soil from its waterlogged state. I cannot wait till it’s okay to walk around because at the moment, it is just too soggy and could harm the grass. 

So while you might be itching to test the ground or start planting, hold off just a bit longer. Allow the earth to get ready for you. Do other things, like starting seeds. Get everything ready and organized and you will be plenty pleased at how smoothly you can work when the time is ripe. I’m holding back along with you. In the meantime, I’m totally relishing my forced bulbs and the gorgeous camellia in bloom.