The Collector’s Trap – Letter from the Editor

My married woman was stun when I told her I was n’t a flora aggregator , at least not like Frank Fitzgerald , whose beautiful garden was featured in Issue # 188 ofFine Gardening(Conquering Collector ’s Chaos ) . “ Then what the heck is go on outside of our firm ? ” she asked .

I explained that while , yes , I acquire a large figure of plant life , I have no focal point to my efforts and tend to bring home anything that catches my eye . My account met with what , after 20 years of marriage , she knows to be truthful : I really do n’t cognise what I am doing . But then she ask , “ Well , why do n’t you pick something and collect it ? ”

I was straight off thrill by what on the control surface appeared to be a blanket blessing to grease one’s palms more plants without reproach . But I just as apace marvel if it were some sort of trap . I mumbled something noncommittal , backed warily out of the room , and retreat to the spot I go when confused . In our dilapidated shed , I sit on the uncomfortable wooden stool amid shred for long - dead plant , spilled potting soil , and tools I never practice but ca n’t bear to part with and adjudicate to enter out what kinds of plant to hoard .

Should I take in conifers ? They are either expensive and huge or expensive and slow growing . That ’s a “ no . ”

Variegated plants ? I only wear clothes in blue or gray , so there is no way I could make that much vividness work .

Roses ? Hard pass .

New England natives ? challenging , but it would require research . And it would be a lot of Tree , which turns me off . I will put that in the “ perhaps ” chromatography column .

Succulents ? Another possibleness . But I have the unfortunate habit of stepping on plants , and there are two kinds of succulent : the kind thatgetdamaged when you step on them and the tolerant thatdodamage when you maltreat on them . Succulents are going to have to be a “ no . ”

toxicant plants ? Also challenging , but also . . . inquiry . And there are just too many ways this could terminate with someone inquire me , “ What were you thinking ? ”

Funka ? The local deer would strongly encourage that . No .

Black flora ? My married woman would keep give me worried glimpse and inquire , “ What ’s wrong ? ” and “ Is everything OK ? ” So , no .

My itemization went on until it transformed quite effortlessly into a nap . I awoke refreshed , with a few plant tags stuck to my brass and a result : I would collect New England native perennial that are deer proof and not too expensive , and that I just occur to stumble across .

I returned to the house to tell my wife that I had found the resolution . After remove one of the earbuds she had been using to listen to NPR , she arrogate that she had no memory of say me to begin collecting plants and ask , “ Ifyou are n’t already collecting plants , what the heck is encounter outside ofour firm ? ”

So , yes , it was a trap , but not one that I understood . My only refuge was to retreat to dependable ground : I immediately changed the subject to how I was hold out to do the laundry before I wangle something for dinner . She smile , and before returning to NPR , said , “ You really should pick something and collect it . ”

— Steve Aitken , editor

okay Gardening recommend Products

Buffalo - Style Gardens : make a Quirky , One - of - a - Kind secret Garden with Eye - transmittable Designs

Fine horticulture get a commission for detail purchased through links on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertizement programs .

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

SHOWA Atlas 370B Nitrile Palm Coating Gloves , Black , Medium ( Pack of 12 Pairs )

Get our latest tips , how - to articles , and instructional videos send off to your inbox .

Photo by Steve Aitken.

Signing you up …

Join Fine Gardening for a complimentary engaging alive webinar feature Dr. Janna Beckerman , a noted plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical director …

When I spotted a especial sand dollar sign cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few calendar month ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delicious color pattern …

When we only prioritize flora we want over plant our landscape painting needs , each season is filled with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , pinch , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Photo by Steve Aitken.

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you record the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …