Thoughts of gardening prevail

THE GARDEN FANATIC

“When I am dead, I hope it is said, ‘His sins were scarlet, but his

columns were read.’”

-- WITH APOLOGIES

TO HILLAIRE BELLOC

“To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”

-- ELBERT HUBBARD

One of the complications of being a gardener is greeting fellow

gardeners in town. From the Farmer’s Market to walking Sammy on the

village streets, conversations invariably move directly to the latest

control for white fly or exchanging lies on the quantity and quality

of cucumbers harvested. It’s not that we’re struck solely by the lure

of gardening -- the lore is equally important.

To escape from gardening for a moment, I decide to relax by

sitting in at a Design Review hearing. After all, only architects,

applicants and neighbors will be in attendance. My colleagues Ilse,

Ben, Suzanne, Eve and David are amiable and prepared (veterans of

countless projects). We settle in to hear testimony concerning the

merits and evils of development, depending on one’s point of view.

I study the audience casually, architects earnestly prepping for

their five minutes of fame, wives nagging at husbands not to make any

more compromises and neighbors putting on their game faces. They

glance quickly at my laptop, not realizing they’ll be in next week’s

column. My thoughts drift to the inevitable during the break ...

gardening.

After the rush of spring blooms, it is difficult to maintain color

from shrubs, which often become quite drab by the end of August.

Enter the bedding plant, the savior for those of us who enjoy the

“idea” of flowers and enjoy a splash of color in the garden. From a

practical point of bedding plants are easy to buy, easy to grow, and

are the easiest way to a colorful garden.

By designing your garden with flowers of colors that please you,

your garden will be appealing and renewed. There is still plenty of

time to include marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos into your garden. Keep

flower beds and containers well-filled and neat by removing spent or

dead flowers and foliage, and your entire garden will appear as trim

and well tended as Catharine.

During the upcoming holiday weekend, fertilize and mulch and weed.

Also, water lawns and trees deeply for the anticipated warm weather.

You’ll be glad you did.

The pace becomes more frenetic as the time approaches for French

fries. Eve declares, “I believe that your project is neighborhood

compatible.” We all concur. Ben suggests that the proposed house

could be more stealth like on the hill. He’s right. Suzanne thinks

that all of Laguna’s beautiful beaches should have public access. A

noble notion. And yes, Linda, I love the siding on our house. See you

next time.

* STEVE KAWARATANI is the owner of Landscapes by Laguna Nursery,

1540 S. Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. He is married to local writer,

Catharine Cooper, and has three cats. He can be reached at (949)

497-2438, or e-mail to landscapes@ln.coxatwork.com.