Desire Lines
Garden design in real life
I grew up with permaculture. I don’t remember when Mom and Dad started using Mollison’s book to plan gardens and guide their planting, but it was always there and part of what we did. By the time I was planting my own gardens, it was so ingrained I rarely thought about it. I had my own term for it. I’m a lazy gardener.
I don’t have time for the garden I want. So, what I do is plan it to take as little of my time as possible. I plant the things I want most often - herbs, especially! - closest to the house. I’ve laid out what I hope will be a fruitful hedgerow along the lines that will allow it to be irrigated easily. Also, I can mow what’s left of the lawn easily. Easy does it. Last year I lost a lot of plants, but I also learned a lot. I learned where the postman walks, and put the grape arbor and break in the hedge where he’d worn a path in the lawn. I learned where the hoses reach - and don’t. This year I put things in those places accordingly.
When we have friends over, they park on the edge of the lawn, beside the sidewalk. Which turned my initial plans of putting that section into bluebonnets and wildflowers into leaving it a mowed grassy section for easy access. Neighbors want to help with mowing and weedeating, because they know my husband isn’t well, and being Texans, they have thoughts on men doing yardwork. Which is incredibly sweet and I love that about them - this is the best kind of masculinity! - but also, I needed to put proper edging on my flower beds so when they do help, it’s not damaging.
In the backyard, my veggie gardens are going well, because last year I realized that ‘full sun’ is not full Texas sun, so they have shade part of the day. I laid out the beds running north-south for no other reason than it allows me to get the hose where it needs to be.
Right by the house I have containers full of color, but there are herbs in with the flowers. This gives me a welcoming entrance for visitors, and the ability to run out barefoot for a handful of mint, or basil, or something for dinner. Also, my rain gauge is right where I can see it when I have to report data every day. The Bignonia attracts hummingbirds and gives us a shaded, private front porch.
In the back sitting area, we have cattle panel on the south side, and I have Peggy Martin roses and a Himrod grape that will, given time, give us shade, delicious treats, and beauty. Grape blossoms smell amazing, if you didn’t know. I recently picked up a Star Jasmine, and then realized I’m not sure where to put it! Which is part of my garden planning, as I get whimsical and then have to figure it out later. I think it will wind up on the south side of the house, as it’s marginally hardy here.
I love winding up with dual-purpose plants like the Suhr Anor Pomegranate which has amazing orange blooms. Now, to see if it sets fruit!
Some of the perennials I put in last year as 1-gallon starters have come into their own. The Salvias are easily tripled in size, and filling in the end of the hedgerow nicely, along with the Winecup. The Winecup is huge this year! I think it’s very happy where it is, and I love it.
Oh look! a baby zucchini!
Every garden is going to be different. Live for a while in your space, and see where your desire lines fall, before you start forming your gardens around those. I think you’ll find that you spend less time doing the hard work, and more time enjoying the blooms and fruits of your labor.
You garden like I do. I want one of those lush "cottage garden" layouts, but they are a LOT of work. A hybrid "cottage-esque" garden is what I end up with, too. If we lived closer to each other there would be much exchanging of saplings etc. Love the potted hybiscus!
I love your garden.