Are Those Weeds?

Gardens are a fun part of home ownership.  In today's St. Paul real estate market it's not unusual to find gardens that have been untended as owners have moved on and left their vacant St. Paul homes behind.  It's fascinating to walk by overgrown gardens and identify the perennials that are struggling mightily to grow amongst the weeds.  Many times these gardens appear hopeless but a patient new home owner might find some real treasures within if they have the patience to weed out the bad stuff and apply a little husbandry to the flowers left behind.

My current St. Paul garden is a perfect example of "found" treasures.  In amongst the weeds were Dutch Iris (lots and lots of these), day lilies, several solid purple columbine, coral bells, some bedraggled Asiatic lilies, gayfeather, and beardtongue.  All were inherited with my new home and its weed garden!  Careful weeding and retention of some of the "unknown" flowers (gayfeather and beardtongue were new to me) have produced a cheerful eclectic mix of flowers. 

To this mix was added neglected and overgrown iris from my mother's garden which had not bloomed in many years (She is deceased and my father doesn't care for flowers!).  There had to be hybrids in with those overgrown weeds.  I just knew it.  Two years passed with no blooms.  This summer was the third of careful tending the transplanted iris.  The link to this slide show demonstrates the results of my patient care.

When my St. Paul real estate clients start proclaiming a desire to pull up all those weeds, I tell my flower stories.  Some still get rid of all the old plantings.  Some are adventurous, start selectively weeding and wait out a season to see what surprises are in store in their abandoned gardens.  The garden adventure becomes part of the new home ownership journey and is equally rewarding! 

Comments

[Maureen Francis]

I just put in Liatris (gayfeather) and have wanted it for a couple of years. My home came with nothing but old yews. I would like coral bells too.

[Carole Cohen]

I miss my columbines; I had three varieties when I lived in Lakewood; I moved in February or I would have taken them lol. You named some wonderful flowers and I will have to improve my selection in my garden