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Iris – Ancestral Reminders in the Garden

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Iris found on family land in South Carolina reminds me to acknowledge my ancestors.

Iris are something I look forward to returning in my garden. Observing the spear-like foliage emerge from a non-descript rhizome, gives me hope. At some point a stem emerges, evolving into a beautiful bloom. The Iris, carefully planted in my garden are quite sacred, at least to me.

Found at our family homestead in South Carolina, this particular Iris was not in bloom. I remember noticing a stand of spear like foliage, right at the edge of the woods line. With Great Aunt Lucy deceased, there were not many relatives alive nearby. In my mind, this plant needed to come home with me.

I knew I wanted some type of plant material as a memory. A plant to remind me of this humble house at the side of the road and a plant that thrived with minimal maintenance. There were two blue hydrangeas that flanked the front porch. At the time, I did not know how to prune them to a size that would allow me to fly at least one of them back to Maryland. I looked around to see what else was manageable to dig and transport. This clump of spear like foliage whispered, “please take me with you…”

Not sure if one clump would be enough, I gathered a large clump which had three clusters of foliage. Gently, I wrapped it in damp newspaper, placed it in a plastic bag, and tucked it in my suitcase. One thing I didn’t want to do was leave it behind or lose it. For safe keeping, I wrapped the bag in soiled clothing, which served as a cushion.

As I flew home, I wondered if it would live. More importantly, I wondered what color it would bloom. My parents had purple Iris in the garden. It didn’t take much urging for my Mom to share a story or two about the significance of the purple Iris. A purple Iris was in her corsage for prom. My Dad gently placed it on her wrist. The color purple reminded this loving couple of their romance which started at Cardoza High School. Purple and white are the colors for Cardoza High School.

Placing this plant in the proper space was important. I did not want this bloom to go unnoticed in my garden. Making certain the basic needs for this Iris to thrive and multiply was key. The soil could not be too rich or too damp, This plant would need 6 – 8 hours of sun in a well draining spot. It was also important to provide ample air circulation for this rhizome.

I placed it at the front of my garden. Each time spring, I wanted to acknowledge my South Carolinian roots. It is because of them, I am here and thriving. I did not know what color this plant would bloom. This was a part of the intrigue in uprooting and transplanting this plant found on family soil.

Much to my surprise, the Iris bloomed the following spring. It was white with a yellow center. I love researching plants and how to grow them. Did this rhizome have a name, I wondered? There were references to a white Iris found planted in gardens and cemeteries throughout the South. Many called this Iris a Cemetery Iris. This plant symbolized faith, hope, sympathy, or passionate feelings. There are some who believe the white Iris is signifies a fresh start.

If you believe in Greek mythology, Iris was a Goddess who bridged the gap between Gods and humans. Many believe, due to the diversity of colors when in bloom, this perennial ties heaven and earth together.

At the Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, I found many gravesites with white Iris flanking the headstones.

It makes sense that an alternative name for this plant is the Cemetery Iris. I was recently in Atlanta and visited the Historic Oakland Cemetery with my friend, Abra Lee. As we walked through the many headstones of common people and even a few celebrities, I noticed this Iris was a common fixture, especially in the African American section. I wondered if the sentiment of embarking in a new journey in heaven was part of the reason for inclusion amidst gravesites?

Some sayings we might never find out if they are fact or fiction. One thing I know for sure, this Iris will always be a part of my garden family. I will pass it down to the next generation …even if it is not purple.

Do you have plants that have been handed down or that have a familial story?

I will lovingly select and prepare a rhizome for my nephew James. As a new homeowner, he is embarking upon his first garden journey. He will need a purple Iris to share the story of his grandparents love affair. I believe James will also need a white Iris to acknowledge his aunt’s romance with her garden. What a terrific way to symbolize a new journey in his life, as a husband and soon to be father.

Perhaps I will find this Iris for my nephew…

Teri, Cottage in the Court

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Raingear – Cuteness and Functionality in the Garden

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Raingear as a necessity usually includes ponchos and umbrellas. Rainsisters raingear is cute and functional.

Raingear in the garden is easy to find. However functional AND cute raingear is worth investigating. As often as possible, I try to attend the Garden Bloggers Fling. This event is held once a year in different parts of the country. Last year it was held in the Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania. Formerly known as The Garden Bloggers Fling, a recent re-brand has changed the name to The Fling. Now The Fling includes the diverse ways the garden community utilizes social media of all types to advance awareness of the beauty surrounding us. The Fling is also an opportunity to connect with other bloggers, writers, and garden aficionados in real life.

The Fling of 2023 was led by Karl Gercens, while my friend Janet and I served as bus captains. All of the gardens we visited were simply beautiful despite the chilly neverending rain. Raingear was a requirement due to the weather forecast. We had ponchos included in our goodie bags, however, we did not anticipate heavy periods of rain. We also did not consider how to protect our cameras and cell phones. While the ponchos were helpful and great forward-thinking, they were not effective in keeping many of the attendees warm or thoroughly dry.

At one garden, my friend Heather Andrews was the envy of many in attendance. On a sunny day, Heather is the ray of sunshine any gardener would welcome. On this rainy overcast morning, Heather was as cute as a button, fashionably attired in a floral raincoat by RainSisters and dry. I knew I needed a coat that had the quality that was keeping Heather dry and warm. As a seamstress and Assistant Buyer for Women’s Coats and Suits, years ago for Raleigh Haberdashery in Washington, DC, I tend to notice the quality of clothing. The coat was not just cute, but the quality construction was amazing.

Rainsisters offers a variety of prints as well as sizes. This company has a commitment to sustainability by embracing slow fashion and conscientious ways to reduce what we discard. While cute, these coats are an investment and something to be cherished year after year.

Raingear with deep pockets, a noise-free lining, and an ample hood are all the ingredients for a cute, functional raincoat.

I fell in love with the deep pockets which can easily hold a cell phone, a wallet, or even a small camera. After trying (and failing) to resurrect my small camera after realizing it was soaking beneath my poncho, I realized how pockets are quite the essential feature. The ample hood was also a great selling point when balancing an umbrella and a camera proved to be challenging. My memories of The Fling include quite a few blurred photos.

Not that I needed much encouragement to just treat myself, the full skirt made me smile. I love a full circular skirt for the freedom and femininity they exude. As I wore my coat on the most recent rainy day, the urge to twirl came over me again and again. I twirled on the street, twirled as I retrieved my garlic dip with focaccia from nido-dc, and I twirled while walking Precious. I am sure my neighbors are rethinking my sanity at this point. As long as I have my coat on, I will seize every opportunity to twirl.

Raingear that I can twirl in makes me happy. My Rainsisters coat brings me joy..and loads of opportunities to twirl!

Raingear is usually basic in form and built for function. I love fashionable attire whether working in the garden, touring gardens, at a farmers market, or simply walking in the rain. If it keeps me warm and doesn’t make me feel as if I am in a plastic bag, even better.

When a good garden buddy shares the info on any product that any gardener would love, that is meaningful to me. Heather Andrews helps others create sustainable gardens that are beneficial to our wildlife. Both of us speak the language of protecting our pollinators and more by incorporating native plants into our green spaces. Thank you Heather for sharing this resource. Next garden excursion – rain or shine – I will be ready!

Dizzy from twirling and thinking about pink or purple rain boots. I need to complete my rain attire…fashionably of course.

Teri – Cottage in the Court (NOT AI GENERATED)

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Fall in Love with Fall

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Fall in love with Fall. This is easy to do if you plant late blooming Perennials.

Fall is usually when most gardeners are busy pulling spent annuals or cutting back plants that have outgrown their space in the garden. I want to encourage gardeners to stop, pause, or even procrastinate while in the garden. In our minds, there is so much to do. My question is, why? Why does Fall make some people fall out of love with their gardens?

Research has shown that leaving something for overwintering beneficial insects is a terrific idea. As a gardener, simply stopping and observing allows one to really see what’s happening in the garden. All is not ‘dead’, and the garden is not done. In fact, as the garden begins to rest, plant roots snuggle in to grow quietly uninterrupted.

I almost gave up on seeing these dahlias bloom. Pausing allowed me to enjoy them along with the bees.

When we pause, it allows us to reconfigure our green spaces. Perhaps add a new bed or extend an existing bed. Limb up a tree, allowing a more diverse bed to evolve from additional light. Maybe decide on placing a summer blooming shrub or a shrub with winter color that can be enjoyed from a window. Pausing, simply put, allows us to look at the garden as a complete sentence. A sentence waiting for colorful edits of plant material or even hardscaping.

Procrastination often gets a bad rap. Consider this scenario. You totally clean up the garden on a fall weekend. Bags are lined up at the curb, football is on, and the task is finished, right? WRONG. Consider leaving that crossing branch until mid-winter before pruning. Maybe stack a few twigs towards the back of the garden, providing protection for wildlife throughout the winter. Don’t do everything all at once. Take your time. Experiencing the fall garden can become a great excuse to just breathe in some crisp air and reimagine your garden.

Watching the bees dancing on my Dad’s mum always makes me smile. Mums were his pride and joy, especially when they were in full bloom and buzzing with bees.

Witnessing Camellia buds swelling, evergreens shedding their fruit, and listening to leaves dancing in the street… are all signs of this wonderful season.

In my mind, procrastination has its virtue in all seasons, especially in the fall. It’s easy for me to fall in love with fall. How about you?

Simply taking time to fall in love with fall…

Teri, Cottage in the Court

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Interplanting – Implementing Diversity in the Garden

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Interplanting is an underused practice in the garden. Most seasoned gardeners are aware of the benefits of this practice. For most small space gardeners or beginning gardeners, this is a game changing technique.

Merriam Webster defines interplanting as a way of planting a crop between plants of another kind. Sounds simple but there are a few methods to this value added way of increasing the fruits of one’s labor as we learn to grow in smaller spaces.

The art of making sound use of all available space in the garden is more important now than ever before. I approached my community garden plot with a different mindset this year. Sharing how to be intentional in what I grew was important to me. The words of Michael Twitty popped into my head. At a lecture years ago, He spoke about how in years past, African American communities relied on bartering between families. One person grew tomatoes, and another might grow greens. As food grew in backyards, pots and sometimes front yards, sharing with others in need was a common practice. The community commitment was to ensure no ere committed to ensuring food was available for those who were in need.

When the season started, I grew lettuce. This was an easy crop and great for growing in the cooler temperatures of Spring. From Buttercrunch to Red Sails, my lettuce provided me with fresh greens every week. I also added Rainbow Chard for additional color in the garden and on my plate. What is life without a few blooms? The calendula added that special touch in small vases as well as sprinkled on my salads.

Borage is my herb of choice for many reasons in addition to the beautiful blue blooms. This plant is a pollinator magnet. The bees and butterflies are always having a party in my plot. Each time I approach my plot, I smile, pause and eventually stop. It is as if I am waiting for the performance to stop. It is amazing to see natures little friends perform a summer waltz.

Another benefit of Borage is the plants ability to repel certain pests. The plants in my plot have no holes in the leaves. In addition, Borage roots reach deep and bring much needed nutrients to the surrounding soil. Did you know that Borage makes a great tea that is know for reliving stress? This is a plant with super powers and cute blooms.

Snipping just enough blue blooms to fill an ice tray, I add water. Gently, I place the tray in my freezer. When preserving special memories of summer for later use, I often refer to it as locking away a seasonal smile. I will use these blooms in iced tea or cocktails. It is fun to explore the many varieties of blooms and leaves which are candidates for preserving. It is a great way to remember the gifts of the season.

Interplanting with Intention

Now that the heat is on in the garden, it is time for enhancing my four foot by eight foot plot. While am still harvesting Chard, the other lettuces are beginning to bolt. It is easy to pull the entire plant and add peppers. I choose hot, mild and always a few sweet peppers to insert where there ae gaps. The warmer temps ensure that my garden gaps are no longer vacant.

The foliage of the peppers will provide just enough shade for a second crop of a few heat tolerant lettuces and perhaps some heirloom carrots. Did you know carrots are great groundbreakers? Pepper plant roots enjoy loose soil. Interplanting a root crop like carrots can open up compacted soils. This allows roots to grow deeply. The foliage of the carrots also form a beautiful living mulch. Try mixing the carrot seeds with sand for better distribution and less thinning. It isn’t too late for a few marigolds or onions as a way of maximizing the space and keeping the pepper roots cool.

Basil will fill out the rest of the garden behind the peppers. I can never grow to much basil. Large leaf basil is great for making wraps in lieu of bread. Sweet basil, cinnamon basil, as well as lemon basil is great for enhancing iced teas or even water. . A basil patch is a great way to have enough basil for pesto, salads, and more. Basil infused olive oil is simple and delicious for used for dipping assorted breads. Chop basil leaves and add to soup or stews. Here is a fun tip – add to spreadable butter on warm bread for a flavorful and aromatic treat. Try mixing a variety of basil cultivars for a unique blend.

Diversity in plant material introduced with intentional interplanting, contributes to the beauty of the garden. In the book I co-authored with Kathy Jentz, The Urban Garden – 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the Garden , we explore many different types of gardening concepts, including potagers and raised beds. Did you know you can interplant in a pot? Spring is the perfect time to begin interplanting. If there are gaps in a plot or a pot, add a few seeds or starter plants. Many times these plants will disguise fading blooms or foliage. As the season warms up, crops like Cilantro or Lettuces will begin to bolt. What a great opportunity to save the seed and plant something else.

Sit with your garden and explore any opportunities to interplant. It does not matter if it is for food or beauty, add an unexpected touch to your greenspace. Intentionally introducing diversity into the garden has never been easier than interplanting throughout the season. Interplanting also gives any gardener a head start on second season gardening.

Pausing in my garden with a glass of cucumber basil water. It is quite refreshing on a hot day like today.

Teri, Cottage in the Court

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Love and Loss in the Garden

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Love and loss in the garden is inevitable. Many times it is just like losing a dear friend.

Just like life, at some point we suffer from the loss of something we love. In the garden, we learn this from the unexpected loss of a plant, shrub, or even a cherished tree. As the garden evolves, there are some things which we must accept and release.

The cottage came with a majestic red oak tree. It was a presence that anchored the front yard, provided nutrients for wildlife and offered a buffer from the sun for my partial shade garden. My dear friend has been removed. You have no idea of how hard it is to write that sentence. The tree gave me a sense of security and semi-privacy. It brought me joy, as I collected the leaves each fall to decorate my table. Love meant caring for the tree. I called in arborists to look at the branches, the roots and more. Maintaining the health of my dear friend was important.

The leaves hung on into January each year. This provided a blanket for the plants and beneficial insects in my garden. The joy I found as I gently moved leaves away from the crown of plants, only to see a bug or a worm hurrying to go deeper to escape the chill of winter. Just to be sure, I would find myself adding a few more leaves, just to be sure these overwintering guests were safe and sound.

Keeping the Peace

So glad I said my goodbyes before I left town. It is hard to see my dear friend like this.

Everyone does not appreciate leaves or large aging tree. Some view leaves as a nuisance or more more thing to do in the fall. If a twig fell, some neighbors would suggest I cut my tree down. Yet every spring it would flush out in leaf. The canopy offered a bit of shade in the heat of the day. My red oak knew my garden needed refuge from the strong sun. Mother nature is a good mother. Mother nature has a way of taking care of her trees. She teaches them to self-clean…and they obey.

To keep the peace, I had branches trimmed that overhung my property line. This disfigured the tree. Many tree care professionals advised against this. In my efforts to be a good neighbor, the tree began to show signs of distress. One day, my beautiful friend had enough. Upon returning home, a large chunk was on my walkway. The time had come – unexpectedly for me to say good-bye. Making the call to find someone who could take care of the process was not easy. Today I look at the five foot, eight inch stump. Working around it is not a possibility. This breaks my heart.

My Dad would say, “Teres, joy comes in the morning.” I was not home on purpose to see the removal of my friend. I did not want to face this loss in person, waiting for the morning was going to be difficult. As Dad promised, I took a good look one day at the crack of dawn to accept the reality of my new full sun garden.

Adapting to Change

Love and loss occurs in life. Adapting and accepting often takes awhile.

Change is inevitable in life, just as in the garden. The hydrangeas, rescued from my parents garden will require a new home. The perennials, Phlox sublata, Epimedium, Hellebore, native ferns, and Astible will require a sheltered area. Reimagining the space will evolve over time and in tune with the seasons. The calming effect each plant had in this space as it led to the side shade garden is no more.

Love and loss in the garden is inevitable. Reimagining the possibilities of a full sun border has slowly dried my tears. A row of narrow evergreen shrubbery will serve as a buffer. It will add privacy and a living hug for the plants included in the transformation. Integrating native plants with the perennials in a full sun setting, is something t consider. A pollinator garden that will feed any of nature’s willing workers from birds, to bees, and moths. Dreaming of including a cut flower garden with dahlia’s, sunflowers and cosmos is beginning to make me smile.

The Lesson

Life teaches us that things change. It does not matter if we want them to or not. It is time for me to release my friend, make the call for the stump and move on. I want to save the remains from the stump and incorporate them in my garden . Along the pathways, in my hügelkultur space, anywhere I can. It is my way of keeping my friend around a little longer and returning her to the earth, my way.

Sitting here looking at my garden in a new light.

Teri, Cottage in the Court

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