If you feel as if I've been quietly absent from the blogosphere, you'd be correct. I simply cannot fight the urge to play outdoors when the weather is this crisp and frankly, spectacular. It's been in the high sixties here this past week and the air is crisp – the long shadows undeniably speak of the autumn that is but a few days away.
I've spent time out in the potager, with many “helpers” at my feet, pulling out chicken-trampled-tomato plants, squash vines that have long been lost to bugs, and flowers that are no longer adding beauty to the gardens. There is still much to be enjoyed from the slowly decaying beds and truth be told, I find the dried echinacea heads, floppy sunflowers, dried corn stalks, and bolted celery plants as equally thrilling as a perfect June rose. Different, most certainly, but uniquely beautiful to be sure.
With a honey latte in hand, I've been working my way from bed to bed. Some plants are mulched, others are pruned, and yet others are thrown to the compost pile. A stash of plastic baggies hides in my waist-apron for collecting seeds from the snapdragons, cosmos, hollyhocks, calendula, morning glory, and foxgloves.
Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting with a friend who was up vacationing with her husband. It was the first time we'd seen each other in over two years and the fellowship was like a drink of cold water on a hot summer day.
After a long and richly satisfying meal, we walked the gardens together and spent some time dissecting the “rules” that are put on gardeners. She chuckled at the zucchini planted next to the morning glory, the rosemary that had been tucked in amongst the roses and sedum. She'd been taught, as many English gardeners are, to keep herbs, vegetables, and flowers separately. Why? I've no idea. Perhaps for the sake of order and organization? Luckily for my gardens, as many others who follow a more French-style of potager gardening, all plants are intermingled. Grapes sit next to foxgloves, tomatoes next to zinnias, and currents amongst the lavender. In the beginning stages of planning her new garden, she was intrigued by the idea that the gardens could all be so casually (yet intentionally) married together.
The main question she had, and many other readers have as well, is consistent: where do you get your inspiration?
Lord knows I can't inspire myself. I've tried. But my coffee tables and bookshelves are weighted by authors and photographers who have impacted Le Chalet with their work. Often, when I feel creatively dry or uncertain about a particular area of the gardens, I head to these resources for help.
I hope they'll come to give you great confidence in your gardens as well.
Here are my favorite garden inspiration sources:
English Cottage Gardening
Pleasures of the Cottage Garden
Tasha Tudor's Gardens
Perfect French Country
Perfect English Farmhouse
The Country Garden
Seasons at the Farm (yes, this one is mine!)
The Layered Garden
Parisienne Farmgirl
In smalls ways, gardening is a bit of a disease. Once contracted, it begins to spread and there simply is no cure other than to dig your fingers deep into the soil and begin to work. In fact, I'm slowly coming to the realization that my “hobby” of gardening may very well be spreading into the realm of obsession. I doubt I will ever tire of studying the Great Artist whilst (is whilst still a word? it should be) pruning roses.
I enjoy each phase of the garden but perhaps mostly this one. The greatest work is behind us now and the gardens have given up what they will. In spite of all their offerings, they still will continue to give us beauty for the remaining frost-free days (and some plants and flowers even a bit after that).
May your last few weeks of gardening be inspired as you enjoy what is left and plan for what is still to come!
(PS: My plans for the near future include a small-scale-Monet-style pond).
And Amen.
Rachel C.
I have many of the same books on my bookshelf. I also love anything by Tovah Martin and Beth Chatto. Have a wonderful Fall!
Rebekah
Thank you for this! I often feel so overwhelmed with our 7-acre homestead here; we’ve been here just 2 years and there is so much I want to do, but I don’t know where to start! So these resources will be helpful. Now I need some of your favorite home decorating resources– I love your style and have enjoyed Seasons at the Farm so very much!
Athena
We haven’t moved yet but while looking at properties we decided to work our way from the house out
I give myself 10 years to get it where I want it
It’s not just about the setting up but arranging the schedule to maintain what you already have
So every couple of years I will hopefully feel comfortable enough to add just a bit more and a bit more
It seems to have worked for my suburban plot so I hope it will work this way in the country
Hope you figure it out with both joy and efficiency and an open mind and thankful heart
S.Lynn
Neighbors I meet in the “hood” I always tell them “You can’t do everything in the first year”, never adding “or the second or the third”. It can be overwhelming but if you rush it, it might not be what works or what you enjoy. We’ve started two homesteads, the first took ten years to complete then sell, In our second one we now have 20 acres, owned for seven years, living here for four. It’s comfortable, have the outbuildings built, and are expanding the garden every year. It’s always a work in progress, learning what works, what doesn’t. Now we know we’d like to downsize to two to five acres in the next five years and it should be the forever home. It’s all a big experiment and classroom. Especially the gardening.
Sherri
I was wondering where you were! But you have all those precious littles and that big farm, so I understand completely. You have inspired me to go get bulbs to plant and seeds to save and food to cook, Oh my! I love your blogs and pictures. I only found you about a month ago. I’m addicted!!! God bless you and your little family.
Tamara Reid
Thank you for the book list! Your potager gardens inspired me this year do be a bit more whimsical with my vegetable garden, and I absolutely loved it! Will be going thru these book this winter to hopefully gather more inspiration for next year.
Jess
The perfect imperfection of your garden inspires me so much and makes my heart happy just looking at it. I love how you write about your gardens, they’re clearly such an important part of you. And I’m totally with you – give me a wild potager garden where veggies, flowers and herbs intertwine any day over a perfectly regimented English garden! Thanks so much for sharing your inspiration sources, too!
addy
Great Inspiration for any aspiring gardener indeed. I have read My Country Garden and I will also check your copy Seasons at The Farm for more Inspirations!!