Sue & Dave’s Garden Spring to Fall
We've spent 30 years turning a ruined
suburban plot into a model of biodiversity and a space for natural recreation.
We have deliberately mixed conifer and deciduous forest areas with meadow and
woodland species in a way that ensures light for all. In a time of disappearing
species, our land is a haven for birds ranging from the occasional hawk to
ravens and doves and ever-present finches and hummingbirds, as well as thriving
colonies of honeybees and bumblebees.
Poesy connections: "Leaves &
Roots" in On the Bridge,
"Ghazal for the Coming Spring" and "The Gardener" in Coming Home, "The Mechanics Beyond
My Garden Fence," "cutting basil," and "The
Rhododendron" in Silences for Love,
and "planting salvia & marigolds in rain" in Turn the Wheel.
Dogwood blossoms in spring, front yard.
Back yard. I
planted every tree but one on the property, and built all the garden beds as
well. This ground, once an abused trash
heap, has now had 30 years of soil amendments ranging from horse and elephant
shit (from the circus when it came to Ford Fieldhouse at the college) to sheet
composted leaves and cedar chips.
View back toward the house, framed up by
two hemlocks.
Trees in spring, left to right: gingko, white spruce,
Large hemlock with white
pine in background.
Red maple just beginning to
leaf out.
Wisteria in bloom with deck
behind.
Japanese Iris in
front bed.
Roses, none of your hybrid teas, just the
old-fashioned kind which take care of themselves and
don’t get black spot.
My fabulous sexy lilies,
Russian sage in background.
Purple clematis.
Wild dragon’s tongue lilies—dunno their
real name, but this’ll do for me.
Rogue volunteer sunflower (winks at all who
pass by).
Lavender (ah, lavender!)
The night-blooming cereus. My
grandfather had one, and it only bloomed once every nine or so years. Ours goes off every summer on the orchid
porch. The flower also calls to mind my
old poesy prof Robert Hayden’s famous poem.
White hibiscus on path from
driveway.
Orange lily. I
love the balanced look of this flower, its deep orange and yellows.
My dad’s strawberry pot loaded with cacti
and succulents. This pot and plants
winter over in the greenhouse.
Anemones, the darlings of late summer &
early fall.
Oak & gingko in their autumn
dresses.