Winding down in the garden

Today I finished planting the rest of my spring bulbs. I began two weeks ago with the help of my husband planting 100 daffodils, 75 crocuses, and 50 grape hyacinths. Since then I also acquired some alliums, windflowers and Dutch irises. We had a rapid cold snap this past week and I regretted not getting everything in the ground at once. But today it appears that Indian Summer has arrived late, but finally, in Connecticut, so I embraced the warmer weather and feverishly dug several beds for next spring.

This was my first year I had my own garden that was not on borrowed land. I ended up acquiring too many plants and had to relocate several as the tree leaves grew in and full sun areas turned into partial shade. As a result, some plants didn't make it.

It was one of the rainier summers we've had in a long time, so slugs seemed to multiply effortlessly overnight in the garden; destroying with them several dahlias, petunias and other delicacies. (I learned that wax begonias do surprisingly well when confronted with massive slugs.)

The tomatoes were a disappointment, and to say that I got five tomatoes is generous. This year they were grown in pots against the shed. I'm toying with a permanent location for a vegetable garden next year, which will either end up by the driveway or behind the house, whichever seems to get the most sunlight.

I planted my first tree, which I felt was important and symbolic. I also learned, a little too late in the season, the importance of good foundation shrubs on the borders of the garden.

It was a year of firsts for me, and several times I was reminded of the The Secret Garden, the book I cherished as a child. I'm looking forward to the plants that return next spring.