I have what I have, and it is what it is.
It is hard to garden here – not impossible, but hard. I recently visited a garden the same age as mine and it was a verdant display of strong tall trees with the illusion of maturity, and deep borders filled to overflowing with a myriad of healthy and abundant growth. It looked like it had been there forever.
I returned home to see a garden still in the early stages, in spite of the time and energy thrown into it. Garden beds with plants struggling to find their place with a philosophical ‘do or die’ attitude as they sit in the holes of their predecessors trying not to ponder or repeat their fate. They say, ‘comparison is the thief of joy’ and it can certainly suck the joy right out of the things you love, leaving you feeling deflated.
Oh, how lovely would it be to grow on fertile land, sheltered from the worst of the wind and with the right amount of shade and light for a perfect and diverse growing experience. I think I would enjoy a garden like that as I wax lyrical to myself about gardening in a perfect environment. Just as a serious case of FOMO settles in like a cloak erasing every achievement I have managed to create, I remind myself that ‘I have what I have, and it is what it is.’
There is no use crying over spilt milk, not that being here was an accident, it was one of those circumstances where life throws you a challenge and you take up the mantle, and get on with things with bravado and bluster, determined to pull a beautiful garden out of a harsh, wild location.
I’m no stranger to challenging conditions. My first big garden was begun with a serious helping of naivety. Just a little bit of prepurchase research would have pointed out that the land was indeed in the middle of swamp. But for some soggy reason, unknown to us at the time, the land was cheap, and it ticked all of our boxes. Not knowing how important gardening would become, and even if we had the knowledge, it probably wouldn’t have swayed our decision. So, there I was gardening in a swamp where it was a bog in the winter and soil so hard in the summer it was like concrete. But I made it work. I made the best of my situation and enjoyed the challenge.
When we moved from there, I have to admit I was getting a little bored with the same old same old, like playing a video game where you’d clocked all the levels and mastered the big boss but kept going back because you knew how to do it. But the thrill of the struggle had gone. We could have moved to a safe place, ideal for the perfect garden, but in hindsight, the ease of it wouldn’t stretch me in the same way and I could see myself maybe one day losing interest. But instead, we marched headfirst into biting off more than I can chew. I just never realised just how challenging it would be.
The other day I stumbled across a map outlining metal corrosion created by the good people at BRANZ, and it would seem we are skirting the edge of their ‘Zone D’. This showed up on their map as a slither of white along the top and bottom of the west coast on a mostly green map of the country. It is the highest category for the severity of exposure to wind-driven sea salt.
All of a sudden, things made sense. This is an extreme coastal situation. More extreme that most of the other coastal locations. Some beach front areas on the map were kindly treated to the designation “little risk from wind-blown sea-spray salt deposits.” I’ve been looking at other coastal gardens for inspiration and constantly find myself falling short. Have I not been trying hard enough? Have I been picking the wrong plants? It turns out I haven’t been comparing apples with apples, and I have a completely different fruit on my hands.
Acknowledging this new understanding allows me to not be so hard on myself and what I’m trying to achieve. Things are not normal here and I need to think differently if I’m to rise to the challenge. Knowledge is power and I’m set for another season in this hostile environment, determined to create a beautiful garden. It might take a while, but what is life without something to keep you on your toes?
Come again soon – I shall garden on, in spite of the circumstances.
Sarah the Gardener : o)
Yay you Sarah,
I’m so glad your musings have readjusted your perspective and yes in terms of the statistical bell curve you are far far to the right or left in a category few would be brave enough to take on.
But you can and will do it, little by little.
The following verse comes to mind for your little plot of paradise 🙂
Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go.
Thanks so much for the encouragement. Is it the kind of environment where you just have to trust that everything will be ok and just put one foot in front of the other. It always surprises me (but probably shouldn’t) to look up and see what has been achieved. : o)
You certainly seem to have picked a tough but beautiful place. Maybe you should only grow native plants and make them your challenge
I certainly want to incorporate natives into my garden so it has a natural feel to it. : o)
Many years ago I had a “bog” garden on the Hauraki Plains. I found winter to be very discouraging.
I am so pleased I’m not a swamp gardener anymore, the winter sogginess was indeed discouraging! But the soil was really fertile so I did bring swamp soil with me to the coast to fill my raised beds! : o)
You seem to be doing well despite these challenges
I think I’m just a tiny bit stubborn! : o)
Good morning Sarah.
Aww I feel for you Sarah, heartbreaking to have your hard work and plant devastation. I’m coastal but not on the beach like your situation. We are in a high-wind area (blows leaves off feijoa trees) high. I planted from cutting rosemary hedges 5m sq with an opening,grows very fast and it has sheltered blueberries Cara Cara orange asparagus lemongrass pineapples goji currants. I even had tusli growing and roselle but it didn’t flower but I think that was more of a season not long enough.I put in a flower farm summer gone and was very surprised how they grew so well I used sunflowers as there wind protector I had them grow up through mesh which helped immensely. Anywho I Hope this gives you some inspiration to tackle your environment.
Warm regards
Sandy 🌸
Coastal growing certainly takes a hardy gardener! I love my rosemary hedge – it works really well. I think I need to plant more about the place! I had roselle flower and I popped them in the freezer as they came ripe so I have a load waiting for me to do something exciting with them. It is always great to try all sorts of things, so you don’t limit yourself in your microclimate. All the best with your garden. : o)