The Intentional Gardener
This month marks the third year of the Black Garden. Swiping through catalogs and exchanging seeds with friends, the possibilities are endless. Perpetually, predictably, unsurprisingly, I’m overwhelmed… until I’m not. I then remember that there’s not enough room for everything and there’s so much pleasure in the complementary way of things. Didn’t grow any zucchini or a particular tomato this year? Well, your friends did and they left a little bundle on your porch. Ain’t life grand?
My spring garden is a combination of greening red currant , fraises des bois, and fig plants with herbs returning again to perfume our space. Most of the garden is brown peppered by green shoots, leaves, and buds. Daffodils, hyacinth, crocus, tulips, and other bulbs are just arriving in spectacular fashion after being lured by a few warm days and then snow, snow, snow.
A mere week ago, these yellow jewels were dusted with snow. Not to be outdone, the magnolia readies itself for its fireworks next month. It knows it’s a showstopper.
At this time of year in Chicago, pansies can only be found pressed between the pages of my favorite books, ensuring that they won’t be forgotten as time goes by. I open Dr. Jessica B. Harris’s Tasting Brazil, and there flowers!
And what do we do with pressed flowers? Make floral windows of course.
Happy spring!
