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Summer Solstice

June 27, 1999

Copyright 1999 Douglas E. Welch


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The summer solstice has come and gone.
I try to celebrate the longest day of the year a little each year but it
also brings a bit of sadness, too. The year wanes from this point with each
day growing a little shorter. It portends the long dark nights of winter
that can seem dismal even here in Southern California. Even without the ice
and snow of my childhood winters in Ohio the early evening darkness can
still weigh on the senses. I keep a constant vigil for the winter solstice
that marks our return to lengthening days and means spring isn?t too far
off.


Out of sync

Unlike more temperate areas of the world, the summer in Southern California
is a time for rest. In the garden I engage myself in more leisurely pursuits
and basic maintenance. Nothing wants to be planted and the lettuce bolts
into seed almost while I watch. I water, deadhead the roses and do light
pruning to keep the paths accessible. If I slip on the trimming the
wisteria and other vines threaten to take over and create a "secret garden"
without any action on my part. I sharpen tools and mulch beds much like
other gardeners do in the winter.

Like winter, I spend my summer days dreaming of what I might add when the
big planting season returns in the fall. Once the temperatures begin to drop
out of the 90?s, wildflower seed can be broadcast and bulbs can be nestled
in so they can burst forth with the heavy rains of late winter and early
spring. In my inherited garden I am surprised every year when the existing
daffodils, snow bells and amaryllis jump out of the ground. I have been
trying to mark various drifts when they are in flower so I can move them to
more opportune areas or transplant those the have popped up in the middle of
a path.

This year I have concentrated on the rather sickly gladiola which are spread
throughout the garden. Those that do come up are either too small or too
large so that they tip over from the weight of the flower stalk. My sister,
Denise, quickly pointed out the problem when I told here about this. Bulbs
are usually planted rather deep, compared to other plants. These gladiolas
have either been planted to shallow or they have worked their way to the
surface over time. I should have seen this on my own but sometimes we need a
set of fresh eyes to clear the haze. I am marking each one now so that I can
move them into one central bed once the foliage fades. I will plant them a
bit deeper and see if more attention yields a better crop next year.

Time for a haircut

Our front garden is a collection of geometrically planted beds of azaleas,
juniper and rhaphiolepsis. This is about the closest thing to a formal
garden on the property. It requires little maintenance over the season but
the most onerous job is upon me. After the bloom has finished each year I
need to bring out the hedge trimmer to straighten the edges and lower the
top. Like my own hair, the growth of the plants is not even and parts stick
up like the cow lick that my barber is constantly trying to paste down. The
plants spill out into the path and threaten to remove any sense of formality
or even order for that matter. Luckily, I have learned over the years that
it is basically a "one morning job." If I get started before the heat of the
day hits I can usually finish it off before lunch.

This trimming work can easily cause me to slip into a rather meditative
state. As I work to develop the straight lines and flat tops I feel like an
artist. I step back, gauge the angle, the height, the "look" and then lean
in to trim off just a bit more. Hours fly by and the only thing I notice are
my tired arms and sore hands.

Some gardeners would consider it sacrilege that I trim these broadleaf
shrubs with a conventional set of hedge trimmers. The recommended method is
to remove growth from the base of the plant with standard pruners, a branch
at a time. While this is an admirable goal it is totally unworkable in my
arrangement. Such a pruning would take weeks, if not months to complete.
Luckily, the trimmer doesn?t seem to ruin the look to any great degree and
it allows me to finish the job in a few stolen hours while wife and toddler
son are off visiting Nonna. When they come back they will find me nursing my
aches on the garden bench sipping a cool drink.

Until next week?

Keep digging...

Douglas


Douglas E. Welch is a freelance writer and comptuer consultant based in Van Nuys, California.
He can be reached at douglas@welchwrite.com or via his web pages at www.welchwrite.com.


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