The slippery slope

Now is the time when the early summer garden starts to harden into the midsummer garden. Fewer if any new plants are emerging and the fresh lush look of the garden begins to dissipate just a bit. Sure, there is plenty to look forward to in the way of flowers, but for the most part all the plants are out. I no longer have to worry about squashing a baby coreopsis or vebena bonariensis as I thread my way though the sunny bed.

But this is not a time to relax vigilance. The garden looks good—well, as good as it can without a total redesign—so I tend to neglect certain tasks that are very important. Sure, I pull weeds, but many of the small ones are hidden behind other foliage. They all have to go. I also need to do the second fertilization of the roses and deadhead ALL the seedheads, not just “enough.”

The pansy containers in the front still look OK, but now they must be replaced. And the wisteria has to be cut back hard. And maybe the viburnum should be pruned. Maybe. The most distasteful task of all—cutting back my neighbor’s voracious silver lace vine, which has jumped the fence and climbed up out utility pole—is another must.


I don’t really feel like doing any of these things. I’d rather enjoy my martagon lilium (top) and another fine color clash (above): yellow heliopsis and magenta clematis.