No, this isn’t my yard. This is the landscaping around the building where I work. I mean really, how am I supposed to compete with this? We’ve had droughts, earthquakes and hurricanes this summer. This yard still looks gorgeous and mine looks like crap.

Want to know real reason my yard is neglected? Freaking mosquitos. Do not get me started. Too late. I can’t get from the house to the car without them swarming me. I wonder if there are mosquito repellant plants? Hmm, I just might be onto something.

I feel uncomfortable watering the newly planted grass and flowers. There I said it. We try to be environmentally aware and it just feels wrong. Our recycle bin is always overflowing and we turn the water off when we brush our teeth. We occasionally even remember to take our reusable grocery bags with us when we go shopping. It has been in the high 80s and 90s recently–way too dry for new plants that are still trying to establish themselves. Yet, it feels like I’m wasting water by keeping our yard hydrated. At the same time, I’ll be seriously annoyed if any of my plants die because I spent way too much money on them. I keep telling myself that this is just to get them going this first year. After this, they are on their own. I lie. Kermit was right, it ain’t easy being green.

Last summer, I read an article about terrariums making a comeback and was inspired to grow something. I even did some research. My experiment in indoor gardening didn’t last. I tried. I really tried. It is the fault of the big monster oak tree in front of our house. While we enjoy the shade (and the much lower electric bills during summer), it means we can only grow light-hating, ugly plants inside. Actually not even those survived and I bought plants that do kind of like light. (They were pretty!) While they looked fine and fancy on day one, they soon were a dead, withered embarrassment. My husband just looked at them day after day and shook his head.

Annuals are the cheap thrills of the gardening world. They are pretty and look good but they don’t last. I used to always get annuals and perennials confused, sort of like tornado watches and warnings. I have since learned that I’m lazy and would rather plant something once and have it reappear for at least a few years. I guess my plan is really to start with the perennials and then occasionally buy an annual for a pop of color. (I totally made that up. We have no plan. I’ve just been watching too much HGTV.)

And, this is another thing that annoys me, sometimes perennials are not so hearty and then you have to treat them like an annual. (The plant world IS out to get me.)

So I kind of lied. There is one plant that I like and it likes me right back: Peonies.

In the house where I grew up, we had peonies in the side yard. They were beautiful, smelled fantastic, and never needed any maintenance. (They were also held in place by old tires but that’s another story.) They just bloomed and bloomed–a pale, soft pink. They are without a doubt my favorite flower.

Our first fall after we bought our house, I planted peonies along our driveway. Our driveway doesn’t recieve much sun but must get just enough for these babies to hang in there. While it took a couple of years, they are now in full swing. Obviously, they are hard to kill and yet still pretty. Even once the blooms fade, the dark green leaves stay nice and healthy looking.

I planted these from bulbs my mom bought for me. I have no idea what kind they are. All I remember is that I had to plant them in the fall and that I had to use manure which is gross. You buy it at the plant store and I mean it isn’t like there is a cow or something standing by doing its business but still–yuck. Circle of life and all that stuff.

A couple of days ago, I planted one in the back yard that I bought at Behnke’s. According to the label, the blossoms will be all white. The backyard gets much more sun so hopefully this one won’t have to strain so far to find some sunshine. In fact, I would kind of be happy if we had a backyard full of peonies. Maybe if the other stuff doesn’t work out, I’ll dig it all up and just plant peonies along the fence. And yes, that brick work needs some love. I was hoping you would be distracted by the flowers.

Book Recommendation:

Peonies by Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Our local elementary school is having a native plant sale this weekend. The rumor is that native plants require less maintenance. This I like. My only worry is that it will just be a bunch of weed-like things because frankly, that is what seems to be growing natively in our back yard.