I guess I’m a generalist gardener. What does that mean?
In my generalist garden, pollinators come first.
No real gardening agenda except I want to help pollinators including butterflies, native bees and hoverflies, along with my honey bees.
In fact, I’m speaking on pollinators at Bustani Plant Farm on September 10 and 11, 2021, at their fall festival.
If a plant doesn’t help pollinators or other creatures in some way. I won’t plant it anymore. Although I still love my Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight,’ I wouldn’t plant another one because its bloom is sterile, and there is no nectar for butterflies and bees. H. paniculata Little Lime® is also sterile. On the other hand, H. paniculata Quick Fire® is covered in pollinators the entire time it blooms. Fireflies really love Quick Fire®. Want to read more about growing hydrangeas in Oklahoma? Check out my post, Hydrangeas for Oklahoma’s finicky climate. Note, there are other newer cultivars, but the ones in the post are those I grow in my garden.
Fewer double blooms
Again, because of the pollinators, I also don’t plant flowers with double blooms very often. As a generalist gardener, I’m not interested in double echinacea cultivars for example. Also, I’m more likely to plant a single-flowering rose of Sharon than a double-flowering one. One exception is Hibiscus syriacus Sugar Tip® I dearly love that plant because it is so doggone pretty.
In spite of the fact that Japanese beetles have finally found my garden, I will probably always have some roses. Roses were my first love, and I’m a sentimental soul. Spring wouldn’t be spring in my garden without roses.
So, there are a few exceptions to the rule.
I grow native plants and some cultivars.
My garden is composed of native plants and cultivars. Lindera benzoin, spicebush, a native, is one of my favorite small trees.
Then, there’s lavender. Someone asked me why I planted it in my potager. Because, it’s a great pollinator plant, it smells good, and it’s a classic for a kitchen garden. You can grow lavender in Oklahoma, but salvia is easier.
I love salvia. Here are three salvias to salivate over, but the salvia genus is big and mighty so plant whatever works in your climate.
I like vegetable gardening. I enjoy growing vegetables and fruit to eat. I’m a generalist gardener, and I don’t like topiary. Therefore, I won’t be part of #topiarytuesday on Instagram. I don’t care how popular it is. To do so would be disingenuous, and I try very hard to be genuine.
What I’m Not
A generalist gardener is neither a homesteader nor a prepper although I’ve had chickens, and I’m a beekeeper. I once had to feed a large family on a regular basis, but no longer. I can now garden to my heart’s content and really grow what I want to see, smell and eat. In the summer vegetable garden, that means tomatoes, peppers (hot and mild), eggplant, okra, green beans, etc.
No more livestock anymore unless you count the bees. We buy our beef from local producers who are friends, and I plan to do the same with pork and chicken this year. It’s easier to support my local co-op instead of growing everything we eat. I probably won’t keep chickens again in this lifetime, but never say never. I do miss their fluffy butts and cackling faces. Know what I don’t miss? Breaking their water and treating their combs for frostbite in the middle of winter.
I don’t miss our horses either. Basically, they felt like large dogs that had a lot of health problems and ate a lot of salad (pasture.) I also wish my deceased sister’s cat, Toonces, who was bequeathed to me because I was the only one left, didn’t live here. I know I sound a little bitter, but he is so mean to our geriatric cat, Sophie. Why is he mean to her? I don’t know.
Isn’t he pretty though? He’s great with people and a good mouser.
Not a purist either
I plant what works HERE IN MY GARDEN. I’ve never been an either/or person. I think you can grow native baptisias and still love roses. Although I’m a card-carrying member of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society, I don’t pretend to know everything about native plants. I’m a member because I respect the other members, and I learn a lot from them. I also ask questions when I need answers. ONPS’ Facebook page is a wealth of information. In fact, I stay on Facebook mostly because of the groups I’m in. I would miss them.
Always learning
I think learning something new about gardening every year is an absolute must. Although I have a very large garden after 32 years, I don’t believe in jumping in headfirst. Grow a few raised beds or vegetables in containers before you plow up the back 40. In fact, I don’t believe in plowing up gardens at all anymore. I think raised beds in this time of crazy rains and weird weather are the way to go.
On beekeeping…
A lot of people ask me about my bees. Several people have also asked me to be their beekeeping mentor, but I’m not experienced enough to mentor someone else. Before you even think about ordering bees, find a mentor, or better yet, take a class in person.
Zoom doesn’t count.
Beekeeping is a difficult hobby, and there’s nothing like opening up a hive and seeing all those little faces staring at you. Especially, on the days when those little faces are angry and protective of their honey.
As one woman put it on my Women in Beekeeping Facebook group, “You will love your bees, but they will not love you.” On a good day, they tolerate us. On the bad days, well…
I still have a mentor, and I still ask questions. Once again, I don’t have all the answers. I think mature adults are always asking questions. Gardening and beekeeping are no different, and no one ever becomes an expert. Not even the experts.
That being said, I know a lot about gardening. That’s not a boast, and if you need some extra help, check out my garden coaching page. Although it’s not time to plant almost anything right now–except a fall vegetable garden–September is just around the corner.
Also, if you’re into podcasts, Carol J. Michel and I have a good one, the Gardenangelists. We’re in our third season, and we’ve helped a lot of people overcome their fear of gardening. Plus, we’re super honest about the challenges. This week we talked about tomato troubles among other things.
So, to be clear, I’m a generalist gardener. What type of gardener are you?
Hi Dee, great post! It’s so easy to get sucked into what everyone else is doing. Over the years I’ve found that the more I stay true to my own interests, in the garden and otherwise, I tend to be more successful. While not a fan of topiary, I have this unexplainable urge to turn a small boxwood into a rabbit. And I HATE rabbits!
One should always manage your garden in the way that pleases you most, without bending to the will of others. For instance, I often have to fight off the strong opinions of the daylily lovers in my life (Sorry Dee) because they just don’t suit me.
Good for you, Dee, regarding the native plants and pollinators. I’m definitely leaning in that direction, too, for many reasons. Your garden is gorgeous, and it sound like the critters keep you busy, too. 🙂
What a great post. I am trying to add more natives and think more about what I have and why. I’m at the stage where I am adding more shrubs for lower maintenance. I added a couple of dwarf Hydrangeas a few years ago and you’ve just enlightened me on that score. I will admit I love my yew and boxwood balls.
Hey Linda, clearly this post hit a chord with people. I’m trying to make my garden easier to take care of too these days. It’s difficult to find the balance. :)~~Dee
Dee, what a great post! You’ve put into words so eloquently what I’ve been thinking a lot about my own gardening for a while now. It’s easy to be pulled in all kinds of ways, especially when so many great gardeners and experts are online talking about what they do… but in the end it’s best to garden the way that works for you and in tune with your own local conditions. I like being a generalist gardeners AND being the expert in one special area, my own plot 🙂
Michelle, I love the idea of being the expert in your own plot. Ultimately, that’s all any of us are. Hugs my friend!~~Dee
I dislike labels, so I enjoyed your post. I too have changed my gardening habits. Remember the days of double digging? Ouchies, just thinking about it. I’m now living in conifer forest, and learning all about the shade again.
Debbie, oh gosh yes, double digging! I hated it so much. I’m glad it’s long gone. ~~Dee
What a great post! You cover just about everything. My six year old garden was naked and wet – less than a quarter acre. We’re in town! My goal was to have a pollinator garden, and I have done pretty well – but definitely done well considering the water in my garden. We now have raised planting beds, and lots (but not only) pollinator flowers, and plants like buttonbush, and winterberries. We have elderberries for the birds. So many creatures to provide for!
Pat, don’t you think that the longer we garden, the more the creatures all mean to us? To start a new garden now would be exhilarating and hard. I’m so thrilled you have yours. Thank you my friend.~~Dee
Interesting to read that many of the more modern hydrangea hybrids are sterile. I have an almost 30 yr old Peegee hydrangea in tree form, that sadly appears to have borers of some kind. It’s future longevity is unknown. But it is always covered with bees when in blooming. Unfortunately, the ever increasing deer population has ruled out adding more hydrangeas was well as enumerable other plants, like daylilies and hosta. Funny that you mention Doug Tallamy in one of your replies. I’m just finishing his book, “Nature’s Best Hope”. A thought provoking read.
Hi Patricia, it’s not that they’re modern especially. There are plenty of hydrangeas that aren’t sterile too. I, of course, grow several of those including ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea. She is always loaded with pollinators. I think the small oakleaf, Ruby Slippers is too. I think we should all just do a little research to figure out those that aren’t sterile. Yes, hearing Doug Tallemy speak changed my garden and probably my life a little.~~Dee
I wonder if it is possible to propagate your hydrangea from a cutting? It’s worth a shot!
Hi Angela, I have a lot of hydrangeas. Most can easily be propagated with cuttings. 🙂 ~~Dee
Lots of great advice in this post, plus a free cat! What more could a reader ask for? (I also love my Limelight hydrangea and regret that those big, beautiful flowers are sterile.)
Carol, I wish someone would take this cat.~~Dee
Dee, I’m a faithful listener to you and Carol and the Gardenangelists Podcast. I have learned much from you two and find myself going down the infamous rabbit hole of plants also. Thanks for the guidance and recommendations for pollinator plants. This has been the biggest year for dragonflies and bumble bees for me in my SE Texas Zone 9. Your garden is amazing! Happy Summer to you!
Hi Robin, and thank you so much! Carol and I appreciate you listening and commenting. It helps us feel like we’re not just talking to ourselves.~~Dee
Hi Dee,
It helps me so much to read that you are a Generalist Gardener. It’s a confirmation that exploration is okay! I too am a lover of hydrangea, but I now live in a “deer preserve”. Knowing that many are sterile will help me stop trying to grow what is a struggle here. Also love and look forward to your weekly podcast. June
Hi June, deer can really destroy a garden rather quickly. I’m sorry you live in a “deer preserve.” I’m a firm believer in doing what works. ~~Dee
Hi Dee,
I have enjoyed reading your blog for years. You have so many beautiful plants. I find myself writing down the name and looking all over to find it. I would like to know the type of gravel or rock that you use on your paths. Thanks.
Hi Cheryl, thank you for reading. My paths are made of river rock pea gravel (although the pebbles are larger), but it’s not the best for paths because the pebbles are round and slide. Decomposed granite is better, and it can be found in Oklahoma now. The reason my paths are river rock is because my husband removed all of the rock in a Boy Scout Eagle Project years and years ago. We donated rubber mulch for a playground. So, we used the pebbles for my paths. Hope that helps.~~Dee
Hi Dee. After recently visiting listening to you tell me about sterile plants, I pay more attention to what attracts the pollinators in my garden. My hydrangea in the back yard has zero visitors. It makes me sad and I don’t love that hydrangea so much anymore. It’s pretty and I’ll keep it but I won’t plant another. My garden is still very young so I have lots to do and plant and acres and acres to do it in. Thanks for your inspiration and genuineness.
Angela
Hi Angela, I so enjoyed your visit. I’m a bit sorry that I ruined your feelings for your hydrangea. The same thing happened to me when I went to listen to Doug Tallemy for the first time. He calls such plants “statues,” and it really stuck with me.I think all the time when I go outside whether a plant is a statue or not. I promise to stay genuine because I don’t know any other way. Thank you so much for reaidng.~~Dee
I love like more than statues so no apology necessary. I learned. It’s all good. Now I’ll research whether or not a plant is sterile before I purchase it. ?