Wednesday, January 26, 2011

My Top 10 Gardening Resolutions for 2011

From In the Garden

I figure if I print my gardening resolutions for 2011 I might be more apt to follow them but we'll see. Here goes:


1. I will plant the right plant in the right spot the first time. If I fail at that I will limit myself to moving it only one time-just once!


2. I will not buy anymore hydrangeas. 


3. I will plan for the drought by endeavoring to plant drought tolerant plants.


4. I will not water each time a plant shows signs of wilting. 


5. I will only grow those vegetables I love and not those vegetables that are easy. 


6. I will preserve my harvest or not grow it the following year.


7. I will focus on my core group of plants and not strive to have every fancy plant that comes along. 


8. I will finish some uncompleted projects-one at a time instead of trying to do five at a time. I will not go onto a new project until the previous one is completed.


9. I will not stress over blank spots in August when the spot was filled in April. I just need to get over it. 


10. I will enjoy my garden more by relaxing and savoring the moment. 


Any gardening resolutions in your neck of the woods?


in the garden....


From In the Garden
My first daffodil of the season bloomed inside my kitchen and it is a lovely one! I planted several Narcissus tazetta 'Minnow' in a clear square glass container using red glass gems as the growing medium, as you can see in the opening picture of this post. I have also planted over 100 of these lovely fragrant miniature daffodils in the garden. While they are showing their sweet heads they are no where near to blooming. 


Garden season has begun here at Tiger Gardens. I've been busy cleaning up the left over fall garden, removing mulched leaves where they are too thick, working on new garden projects (some of which will appear here), giving garden talks, and just generally enjoying the longer days of spring-even though as you read this we are probably covered with snow. Nonetheless, spring is near....


in the garden....


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

39 comments:

  1. All those resolutions are so sensible - I've probably done the opposite of each one over the years, especially chasing after the new and different. Congrats on the beginning of gardening season!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your resolutions made me laugh, especially the not moving plants, buying more hydrangeas, watering at first wilt, and just enjoying your garden. Good luck! Will we get a Dec 31 post with an appraisal?

    Spring is far in Maine so I shall enjoy yours. I can't remember seeing more snow any other winter although we missed a big one when we were in England.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those are good. I vow to sit in my garden more. Now that I have a laptop, I may blog from there instead of from the basement office.

    ReplyDelete
  4. All I can say is good luck with all of these, Tina:) They are all very worthwhile resolutions, but I'd have a hard time resisting a new hydrangea or another "fancy" plant that catches my eye. I should take to heart your resolution about the vegetable garden, though--I wasted too many peppers and cucumbers last year. And sitting and savoring the moment in the garden is definitely something to strive for!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good morning all! I agree it is so hard to keep resolutions but I'm determined:) We'll see at the end of the year. We have a lovely 4" or so of fresh white snow. I think snowman building and shoveling is in store for us today. The Jimster says sledding. Yahoo! Everyone have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love your five and ten. :-) It looks like gardening like mad can take away the pleasure of seeing your garden develop.

    Here's to you and your resolutions for 2011.

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So, not going to be lured by a pretty face eh? Good for you, all the more for me. :-)
    Not sure I understand the not watering if the plant is wilting. did I miss read it?

    ReplyDelete
  8. You know if those were my gardening resolution I would fail miserably! Although I have done well with planting drought tolerant plants. Schools are out here again. I'm getting really tired of this snow stuff - I mean this is Tennessee - it' snot supposed to snow this much here!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great resolutions!

    I'm making my garden smaller this year by using ground-covering, or go-to-seed options in places that I can no longer maintain during the hot summer. The 90 days over 90 degrees did me in (and parts of my garden) last summer! Smaller, more focused, for me.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I need to think about my resolutions. Yours sound great. Good luck. Carla

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm just going to offer moral support to you. My main goal for 2011 is to plant more foundation plants..evergreens, so the garden doesn't look quite so drab in Jan. and Feb.

    ReplyDelete
  12. They are all very good resolutions but I think they will be very hard to stay true to for any gardener. I was laughing pretty hard by the time I got done reading them ll. It is a lot to undertake all at once but I do wish you much luck!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Janet, Some plants (like the hydrangeas) wilt every day just because they are hot or lose more water or whatever, this doesn't necessarily mean they need to be watered. You can tell if the next day the plant is perked up in the morning then wilts during the day that it really is not stressed. I need to quit stressing and toughen them up a bit.

    Dave, Enjoy the snow! It will be gone soon enough. I know Grace is having fun maybe building a snowman? It's a perfect snow for that.

    Cameron, I don't know how you maintained such a beautiful garden in the summer as it was so good for you to focus more. Can't wait to see your groundcovers.

    Carla, Thanks!

    Darla, Sounds like you have a plan! That's the first start with any resolution so I know you'll do well!

    Mom, I can do it-really! Although I was just extending a garden...Ha! Just moving a few plants. I really don't want to go overboard with plants anymore. Just focus-it's a good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such ambition! I would just choose one and keep the rest for the next nine years!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tina,
    These are great resolutions! It is so difficult to resist the urge to go overboard with planting new stuff. It is painful to toss gardening catalogs that have glossy photos tempting me!

    Beautiful daffodil!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Tina, did you make these resolutions before or after those beautiful catalogs started appearing in the mail? The only one I wonder about is not planting hydrangeas. Is there something besides the water requirement?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sheila, THAT is the way to do it for sure!

    Rosey, It is hard not to go overboard but I will be strong...

    W2W, I have about 60 hydrangeas here already-all kinds. The mopheads, oakleafs, paniculatas, and arborescens and while I love them, they require the most water amongst my trees. If I want more I think I'll be propagating some and taking my time. I have them arranged fairly well but may have to move a few more closer to the house for watering. We shall see but just need to cut back.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am going to take your lead and work at 10 promises for myself in 2011. Like that. Your #7 reminds me of how many of us try to have every plant that comes along. I read somewhere that the best description of that kind of garden is "horticultural diarrhea". If nothing else such a term makes one think about buying additional plants! Jack

    ReplyDelete
  19. Before I read all the way through the comments I was thinking, 'Root hydrangeas.'

    I think I can break most of these vows but we have to try.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Excellent resolutions! They're similar to mine. I finally yanked a bunch of plants that had become demanding divas when I realized they were in the wrong spot. I filled the spot with super tough natives. I'm hoping they do well this summer. #9 is my favorite. I need to adopt the same attitude!

    ReplyDelete
  21. All most worthy resolutions! I especially relate to 8, 9 and 10! Here is to a stress free gardening season ;)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Very sensible resolutions. :) I don't make resolutions although they are a good idea. I've been doing some work in the garden too when the weather allows, mostly in areas that need to be stripped of blackberry, greenbriar, saplings, etc. Enjoy the snow!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Good luck with your resolutions! I know I would have trouble keeping them

    ReplyDelete
  24. Re: Dame's Rocket...I have some seeds left, want them? You could start them in your greenhouse...rusdar at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I loved your list and can relate to several. But I'm not making a list. I plan to enjoy what I have more, living in each moment as you said and will try not to stress about what isn't perfect.

    Happy Gardening ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am wondering how many of these you will actually stick to girl :-) It will be difficult for you but I bet you can stick to some of them but not all. I am not placing any bets in Vegas on this but we will see. LOL…

    Warming up here this weekend and I am so looking forward to it. We had record high heat bills this month and I am not happy about that as it dips into my gardening funds…

    Stay warm and enjoy those beautiful scenes the snow makes. Soon enough, it will be gone…

    ReplyDelete
  27. Tina. Its been a while. My bad. Thanks for the recommendation I had a Wisconsin visitor. As to resolutions I'm copying yours and posting them in the shed. They look good to me. I tried to move a 7 year old hydranger last year and about broke my back. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Ah, Tina, such admirable goals. But I don't think I have the willpower for all of them in my garden. I'll be suckered by another hydrangea eventually (just not a h. macrophylla anymore!). I'm hoping to simplify my beds by giving away perennials that aren't my favorites and not planting annuals - the perennials and shrubs that are left will have more room and make better masses. Fingers crossed!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I do think resolutions posted for all to see are more likely to be kept, Tina. I'm hearby resolving to take better care of my perennials this year. Between the veggies and the chickens, they were neglected and dried out. It would serve me right if some of them don't bother to come back.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Tina I love these resolutions, I should probably make most of the same ones. But giving up Hydrangeas, not sure I'm ready yet :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Tina, I am with you in not buying every fancy plant that comes along and also for taking more time to really enjoy my garden. The work will always be there waiting for me! Have a great weekend! Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  32. I really had to laugh about spring being here in the garden--I am sure you have seen photos of what PA looks like right now and more is on the way. I hope it doesn't go against your resolution but I would suggest that you use Geranium 'Rozanne' for your blank in August full in April problem. It doesn't really start growing outwards until the end of June and then it covers the area between plants in about 5' in every direction. It is covered with flowers into December, but then demurely retreats to its central clump for the spring only to do it again.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Good luck to you! I see several that would be way to easy for me to break.

    ReplyDelete
  34. oh yes, on not buying every fancy plant and on finishing projects before starting new ones. Most all of your resolutions I could apply to myself tho ~ great list Tina. I hope they work out for you!
    I haven't made any resolutions this year. I always want to take out more grass ~ does that count?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Your resolutions put a smile on my face because I can relate to every one of them. I wish you the best of luck sticking to them! Now I am going to explore the rest of your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love, love your resolutions. I really concur with the one about not stressing over August's bare spot. So true, so true. Love your Narcissus blossom! I'm heading out to the garden now. I've got some plants to move!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Good resolutions Tina. Hope you are successful. Writing them should help, but I know the first week into spring I would be forgetting most of them.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Tina, I love your resolutions, and they just go to show that no two gardeners are alike, LOL. For one thing, I don't like hydrangeas much, so don't need that resolution. We don't have a water problem, so no go on No. 3. And I'd been thinking of resolving only to plant vegetables that are easy, and buying the ones that aren't but that I love at the natural foods store. But I do definitely agree with your No. 8 through 10! Great idea for a post, All the best, Barbara

    ReplyDelete

ALL SPAM WILL BE PROMPTLY FRIED. PLEASE DO NOT LIFT PHOTOS OR WORDS. THANKS!