Last night before going to sleep, I relaxed with a gardening book on front yards. Now, before I go any further, this photograph is not my front yard! It’s part of a great memory from two summers ago, however, and illustrates a thought. As an amateur gardener, it seems to me that autumn is the perfect time in the southern united states to plant foundation shrubs and trees. These plants provide a backdrop for other plants, whether it’s color, shape, or texture. These grounding shrubs are placed first, to establish healthy root systems over the winter. They like the more predictable rainfalls that come before the heat of late spring. They often have a solid appearance, almost as if one could lean against them. A backdrop of sorts is provided by these shapes and colors. They can be used as an invitation to look beyond. How do we choose what to plant? I believe a good rule of thumb is what we know grows well in the soil provided, how we can amend the soil, what is important to us on a daily basis to look at, and what we treasure.
I suppose if we look at foundation planting from a landscaper’s perspective, then we may consider the front yard as a semi-public space. What do we choose to show others about ourselves? What do we wish to display? What are the most important values and beliefs we hold which inform all of our decisions, which are the bedrock, the cornerstone, of our personal world?
Consider writing some thoughts down about this. Or, perhaps drawing a picture of what you hold dearest may be more pleasing to you. Notice times in your day when thoughts bubble to the surface and you access your intuition about such subjects. Are you walking? Stuck in traffic? Brushing your teeth? Taking a shower? Sitting down for five minutes in the morning? How might you begin to notice what you are planting?