Out in the Garden

by Kathie Sawyer

Six years ago it began as a simple attempt to locate a garden
in an area where it would not need to be moved mid-season.
Our newly purchased home had quickly revealed a secret 
we did not have a legal septic system. It appeared that we
would soon be digging somewhere in the back yard to make
a legal system. My partner brought out the tiller and began to
change a “golf course” perfect front lawn into a garden.
Soon a large, somewhat rectangular bare patch of ground be-

gan to appear.

We did notice that the passing traffic slowed a bit as we
worked, and a few folks nearly hit the utility pole at the cor-
ner, but somehow we didn’t have a full sense of how out-
rageous our efforts would appear. Our house is located in the
center of a small village, a short distance from the general
store. The clerk told us later in the day that everyone who
came in asked, “What are they doing?”

Many of us live unobtrusively within our communities. Cir-
cumstances dictated that we be very visible to the town as
we pursued our love of gardening. Even our quarrels as we
two women resolve the placement of shrubs and perennials
are there for the world to see or hear as we lose ourselves out
in the garden.

Now, six years and many new bare patches later, we main-
tain the garden in the front yard. This year it is beginning to
achieve the established garden look that we have worked to-
wards. In addition, we have established ourselves in the vil-
lage. It’s interesting that in order to obviously look at the
gardens, folks usually assume a friendly smiling face and of-
ten wave. Some even stop, and we share information and
even plants and seedlings. “Please take some gloriosa dai-
sies!”

This year I was fortunate to be involved in an exchange of
plants with a fellow gardener. He has raised some incredibly
healthy delphiniums. I have placed a metal tomato cage
about each new plant, hoping that this will give them suf-
ficient support to stay erect against the wind Previously I
have used bamboo stakes and ties, with mixed success.

This spring has astounded us. Our joy in the early warming
of the soil which has given us quick germination and growth
is offset by hovering questions about global warming. I must
admit that I really would enjoy one growing season in a zone
6 climate. Visions of all those too tender plants dance in my
head. My forsythia never blooms except for a few haggard
yellow flowers at the bottom. My neighbor explains that the
forsythia is a zone 3 shrub with a zone 5 flower. I’m learning
about shrubs. This year the weigela bloomed for the first
time and I am rejoicing. I learn as I grow. We would love to

. have an exchange of ideas about gardening. Any readers

wanting to share ideas, perspectives, or to report on gar-
dening failure or success, please write to us care of OITM,
PO Box 177, Burlington, VT 05402.

TELEPHONE (802) 524-9595

CAROL L. THAYER, M.D.
FAMILY PRACTICE

RD. 2, BOX 1 use
FAIRFAX, VERMONT 05454

OFFICE HOURS
BY APPOINTMENT

DEBORAH G. ALICEN. M.A.
Licensed Psychologist-Master

P.O. Box 16

Plaintield. VT 05667 (802) 454-7701

The Passion of Pearls...

   
   

July 20 Ladies Lounge Dance
$1.00 7-10

p.m.

Piano Bar Upstairs
P.J. & Cousins Live Music
$5.00 9-1

p.m.
Women's Buffet & Dance
$5.00 5-9

pm.

Men's Tea Dancee w/Drag Show
$3.00 Tea

Dance 6 p.m. Drag Show 9 p.m.
Pasta Night - All You Can Eat $5.95
Cole Porter

Night 6-10 p.m.

Juice Bar - Downstairs

$3.00 18+

& older

Ladies Lounge Dance

$1.00 7-10

p.m.

Piano Bar with Guest Pianist
Bingo, Pizza, & Prizes

8 p.m.

July 21
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August 2

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August I 7

August 18
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Pearls

   

135 Pearl St.
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