Building new beds

It’s a new year and we are about 6 months into our new home. After finally getting settled inside, it’s now time to get the new garden ready for spring planting. We have been taking advantage of this unusually warm winter weather to build some new garden beds and make plans for the new greenhouse.

My family and I found a slice of paradise here on a mountain in Swannanoa, where the past owners have been intentionally tending plants on this small modern homestead. There are 4 raised beds on a sunny slope with room to grow. This is the place where dyes will grow. Surrounded by raspberry and blueberry bushes, lovely woods and the view of the mountains (at least during the winter). Now to decide who will take up which spaces, and will the asparagus be allowed to stay amongst the new madder beds.

I had been building my dye/ herb gardens for about 13 years in our old house. I knew when each plant would bloom and how much water the garden needed during dry spells. The perennial plants were well established and I had several established madder beds, harvesting from a different bed each year. Every year when it was time to put energy into finding a house where our family could expand and flourish, it was my garden that held me in place. Once we made the commitment to finally make the move, I tried to harvest as much as I could and missed out on planting this past year.

The plant that I most looked forward to watching grow and harvest each year is St. John’s Wort ‘Hypericum perforatum’. I love the surprise red juice that would end up on my fingers, on cloth, and in oil. It was the one plant that did not come back this past year before we moved. I guess it knew I had made the decision to leave and it no longer needed to come. I have a special place for this plant to grow now.

I am looking forward to getting other new plants established and learning the habits these plants will take up in our new space, even though only less than 10 minutes from our old space. I am excited to make new habits around these plants, spend time in the sun and rain, watering and weeding, harvesting and observing.

Whoever moves into our old house will have some unexpected friends. I wonder if they will know how important and special these plants are, or just dismiss them. Regardless, this spring and summer they will show their sweet subtle beauty, become a resting place for bees, and hold memories of the past.