Comments on May Dreams Gardens: Reforming My "One Of" Ways, Again

I enjoyed your Chicago photos and commentary about...

2009-06-08T19:45:49.894-04:00

I enjoyed your Chicago photos and commentary about "one of" plants. I try to cram lots in, and frequently buy only one of a plant because I fall in love with it on the spot. I've been noticing how good more than one of a plant looks, too. Another thing I do is have several of a plant, but spread them out. Now, why do I do that? I think I don't want to look like I'm

I'm a "one of" person, too but I'm not going to re...

2009-06-07T16:14:39.626-04:00

I'm a "one of" person, too but I'm not going to reform any time soon. Or at least not with expensive perennials. Maybe I get my "drifting" out of my system in the spring with my displays of larkspur, cilantro and bluebonnets.

As Sylvana says in the comment above, I like to take a plant for a test drive first, to see how it survives in my garden. Most don'

I plant one-of for a couple reasons: 1) I want to ...

2009-06-07T01:06:10.231-04:00

I plant one-of for a couple reasons: 1) I want to study it without having a huge mass to tend to - how does it behave, how does it add to my garden, and where should I place it? 2) I don't want to waste money on a bunch of duds - one dud is expensive enough, 3) I hope to divide over time - and if that doesn't work, I buy more of what I like and add to the area I have the other planted in

hi carol. I have "one of" those calamints. I nev...

2009-06-05T18:53:36.097-04:00

hi carol. I have "one of" those calamints. I never thought to group a bunch of them. it's a wonderful plant with great minty fragrance. and the blooms aren't awful at all. they are quite wonderful...small and white with little purple dots that mark the petals. the blooms remind me of a puppy's face. and the plant is virtually carefree. i understand you're trying

Okay, I don't know 'Wesuwe,' unless it has some ot...

2009-06-04T23:37:04.340-04:00

Okay, I don't know 'Wesuwe,' unless it has some other English-language cultivar name that escapes me... but I have to put in a plug for you to grab 'Caradonna' if you're looking for a taller salvia. 'Caradonna' has dark purple stems AND purple flowers, and the effect is magical--the stems really make the whole plant glow with an intensity that you just don't

Add my name to the list of "one-of" offenders. I t...

2009-06-04T22:03:11.188-04:00

Add my name to the list of "one-of" offenders. I think my problem is being too tentative. I am afraid to commit to a drift of plants that may fail and break my heart. But that is no excuse--I need to be a gutsier gardener!

How true, Carol. I'm trying to wean myself off buy...

2009-06-04T16:01:07.522-04:00

How true, Carol. I'm trying to wean myself off buying 'one of', which is great fun, as it is an excuse for buying yet more plants! Beautiful photos.

Hi Carol, I'm guilty as well;-) I've done everythi...

2009-06-04T11:31:45.728-04:00

Hi Carol, I'm guilty as well;-) I've done everything that everyone has said in the comments here! But I often buy 2 or 3 of each; (2 is ok for me sometimes, because I have a garden on each side of my driveway. I'm limited for space in each garden. I like the symmetry of '1' on each side, especially when the plants spread and grow large. I supposed they could be called '

I usually buy three which I did yesterday and when...

2009-06-04T08:41:44.670-04:00

I usually buy three which I did yesterday and when I placed them in the garden I wondered why I didn't buy five! Drifts are so satisfying and the Geum needs to live here also. Do you think it is okay to plant 'Prairie Smoke' away from the prairie?

Hi Carol, that was a lesson to be taken from the g...

2009-06-04T08:09:28.368-04:00

Hi Carol, that was a lesson to be taken from the gardens we saw. If only we knew what to do with all those other plants already growing in our gardens, rip them out? Ack! The Geum simply must come and live here, we will not rest until we find it, them, many. We already have many salvias that are blue, they are just not planted all together. That too must be rectified. Good luck on you

Being a new gardener I used to buy one of everythi...

2009-06-04T08:07:41.608-04:00

Being a new gardener I used to buy one of everything not knowing any better. After 2 years of things not looking right I finalized that I have to plant in groups for impact and color. So, now I'm reworking the beds. It takes time and there's lots to learn. Now I buy at least 3 of everything unless I specifically want a speciment to shine. -Jackie

Very thought-provoking post, Carol- read it yester...

2009-06-03T23:10:06.371-04:00

Very thought-provoking post, Carol- read it yesterday, deleted the original comment and decided to think about it awhile.
Why don't I have more drifts? I saw those Lurie gardens and know how cool it looks. It can't just be about money because occasionally some plant has grown enough to make a large dramatic swath in my garden, like the Shastas this spring.

So what did I

It was so enlightening reading all the comments. ...

2009-06-03T23:02:27.657-04:00

It was so enlightening reading all the comments. Sounds like we all do the same thing. The gardens are beautiful. It must have been a great experience to see them while at the Spring Fling.

Carol, I was going to say I have the same problem,...

2009-06-03T17:39:57.683-04:00

Carol, I was going to say I have the same problem, then I read the comments. We are not alone! But you are right, and the massed plantings are spectacular. Try baby steps - "3 of" or "5 of."

I was thinking about the 'one plant ' problem the ...

2009-06-03T17:21:25.646-04:00

I was thinking about the 'one plant ' problem the other day.I have the same problem, sometimes it is good to see if one will survive before I buy more, other times it is just sheer thriftiness... /cheapness!

nice flowers

2009-06-03T16:48:49.416-04:00

nice flowers

I'm guilty of the same thing, Carol. Of course, w...

2009-06-03T09:37:05.100-04:00

I'm guilty of the same thing, Carol. Of course, we don't have the expansive gardens of the Lurie or the Botanic Garden, but still more than "one of" certainly creates a powerful effect. It's funny that we were drawn to much the same plants; I was taken by all of these, too, except for the camassia, which I somehow missed. On my list I'd add baptisia.

Carol, As I was looking at my two clumps of yarrow...

2009-06-03T09:02:15.773-04:00

Carol, As I was looking at my two clumps of yarrow and comparing them to a photo of a drift of yarrow I realized I have to allow more room for a plant to spread. This post is a great reminder of the power of many instead of the interest of diversity. Did that make sense?

Yep, guilty as charged. I am a "one of" planter b...

2009-06-03T07:32:02.825-04:00

Yep, guilty as charged. I am a "one of" planter but for a different reason. I always like to see if "one of" will grow in my garden where I want it, while all the time thinking I will purchase more if "one of" grows well. Yet i don't get "more of" when they do well. Like you say, they sure look outstanding when planted together.

I try to never buy less than 3 "one of". Great po...

2009-06-03T07:10:49.542-04:00

I try to never buy less than 3 "one of". Great post.

Oh we all want drifts and drifts.............I kno...

2009-06-03T00:46:03.277-04:00

Oh we all want drifts and drifts.............I know I do. But who has the room? I'm as guilty as the next person; I try to buy in at least groups of three, but six, or twelve would be even better.

I'm glad you pointed out this design lesson from t...

2009-06-03T00:34:59.605-04:00

I'm glad you pointed out this design lesson from the Lurie, Carol. It was demonstrated to great effect there. I'm sure you have room for good-sized drifts of salvia or prairie smoke---and even more room if you take out some of that lawn. ;-)

Let me know if you find Wesuwe anywhere...I haven'...

2009-06-02T23:16:51.740-04:00

Let me know if you find Wesuwe anywhere...I haven't found it online yet!

I'm also guilty of the "one of" misdemeanor but in...

2009-06-02T23:03:19.115-04:00

I'm also guilty of the "one of" misdemeanor but in a city lot, who has space for drifts? Except those Helianthus mollis. I can't seem to stop them from drifting.

I have noticed I tend to take and post close-up photos, so nobody except me knows that my garden is a collection of specimens.

I like your point. Often I buy one, of pricey plan...

2009-06-02T22:03:36.066-04:00

I like your point. Often I buy one, of pricey plants, in hope that I can make more - divide plants or collect seed. It's a great idea with boxwood, IF you start this project when you are a lot younger than me.