Today we’re off to Laufersweiler, Germany, to see Dani’s beautiful garden.
I am sending some photos of my little rose garden. I am an American living in Germany and have become a plant hoarder. My garden is 15 years old, only one-tenth of an acre, and already is stuffed with 385 roses, hundreds of bulbs, and perennials. The coronavirus lockdown did not help, as most of my days were spent online buying more and more discounted plants or bulbs. These purchases must be hidden from my hubby, who thinks plants and gardening are a waste of good money. His critique has made me go underground with my habit. Below is a description of my last no-no. He had no idea.
“Mud is everywhere—in my hair, in my socks, under my nails. My sneakers are covered. My mind screamed, ‘Need to clean this up before the hubby gets back.’ Burned the boxes and invoice, check. Put plastic in the trash, check. This afternoon, I planted 20 tree lilies, 40 normal lilies, 50 crocuses, one massive Itoh tree peony root, 10 white daffodils, 15 monster Allium bulbs, 75 anemones, 100 short irises. Three hours later there was no evidence of my bulb shipment except the mud-plastered shoes sitting next to the stairs and the mud trailings from the door to the laundry room.
“To cover up my obsessive plant/bulb shopping, I think I’ll tell the hubby I moved a rose or something. Since the weather is not freezing cold, I managed to buy all these bulbs for 50% less than normal retail and get them in the ground before they froze. This time of the year, Dutch growers sell off their stock for dumping prices. After all of that work, I literally walked in the house, stripped, put all of my clothes including my coat in the washer, and took my naked, tired butt upstairs to shower.
“I’m out of control. The beds are so stuffed that I quite often hit a bulb trying to squeeze yet another in. But when tree lilies only cost 50 cents each, well, they have to go in. Hubby will be amazed how many “seeds spread” this year. He doesn’t have a clue about plants and thinks my roses are naturalizing and spreading! Sure, reproducing/cloning—including the plastic tag!”
The beautiful pink rose ‘Augusta Louise’
What a wonderful idea—free bouquets hanging from the garden fence for anyone walking by to take and enjoy
This garden is overflowing with lush flowers.
Arbors are covered with the climbing rose ‘Ilse Krohn’.
Spires of foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea, Zones 4–9)
The incredible clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ (Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’, Zones 4–9) is covered with soft lavender blooms.
A stunning bouquet from the garden
Roses and foxgloves bloom under the apple tree.
A garden statue is tucked into the lush abundance of this garden.
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Comments
Love Dani's garden and her sense of humor!
First of all, you are very funny! Your gardens are gorgeous! Please send photos when your bulbs bloom in the spring, and I think it’s wonderful that you give away flowers to passers by. Your gardens are a gem and so are you!
Dani, you sure made me laugh this morning! Everything is beautiful! Your husband is very fortunate !!!!
Dani you made me laugh out loud! I loved that and your story and photos as well😉 bravo!❤️
Love that clematis ‘Nelly Moser’.
Lol! I can definitely relate! Covid helped my garden as well. Your garden is beautiful! Keep it up. I used to move my beds out a few more inches each spring as I 'cleaned up the edge of the bed.
Ha!My planting beds moved outward every year too as I cleaned up! It was like a slow growing creature. LOL!
I too enjoyed your garden story of obsession and what a successful garden it is!
You really have a fabulous garden and such a welcoming garden gate with the free bouquets.
Wow, a work of art and I feel good just reading your funny story of mud and your margins, and your beautiful healthy gardening obsession!
Thank you for the good laugh on a dreary Monday morning here in NC! I can totally relate to being a gardening addict... Some women buy shoes/handbags, etc. and hide the receipts - I think it's MUCH better to buy plants. Your little garden is a stunner and I know your neighbors must really love the beauty and the free bouquets! Charming!
Dani, you are a stitch and your story is one most of us can relate to in our gardening lives! Your storytelling is only surpassed by the lush beauty of your gardens. Keep posting, girlfriend... we all need to see those bulbs in bloom. BTW, the fragrances wafting thru your yard have to be intoxicating!
I can totally relate to your subterfuge! I've been buying plants on 3 different credit cards so my husband doesn't notice the large totals!
Thank you for the enjoyable and funny story. Your garden and photos are stunning. My favorite type of gardening style. Simply beautiful.
ACK!! It is the height of a garden addict as so many of us become, just need 'a wee bit more land'. Please continue to regal us with your stories, even a short story you may have published by a local garden store or website. We cherish them you know!
Love your garden and your sense of humor. Your garden gives new meaning to 'lush and exuberantly healthy'! Beautiful roses and clematis.
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