Human Flower Project

Cons and Pros and the Joneses

How a gardening pro got us moving, if in a different direction from his own.

Amateur (l) and Pro (r) in coexistence

April 8, 2009,  Austin, Texas

Photo: Human Flower Project

We’ve been running a con job on the neighbors since January. For a blissful spell we are no longer keeping up with the Joneses. Temporarily, we ARE the Joneses (pay no attention to that bombed out area where lawn should be!).

People strolling babies and dogs have come by and remarked, “Looks great!” from the street. We beam and in the interest of time usually refrain from full disclosure.

Of course, with many of these folks, disclosure is not necessary. They saw the place “before” and saw Stan and William and Alfonso out there moving earth around. We didn’t do it, they did. But we did dig – into the old savings account just as the whole economy went kerpluey.

We bought what we could afford, a bed that wraps the corner (new) and reworking of three other beds closer to the house that had become hideous due to a combination of impulsivity and neglect. To economize, we scratched off our wish list a fine new buffalo grass lawn —thus the bombed out expanse from which you will avert your eyes—and any professional work at the side or back of the house. We decided to keep these spots all-amateur, partly to save money, partly because we couldn’t bear turning the whole cheeseball over to the pros.

So here you have it, or we should say “them.” Two ideas and two executions.  The truth is we really like them both.

Stan’s and Alfonso’s handiwork with agave, lantana, bluebonnets

Photo: Human Flower Project

The pros are strong on design. They’ve been great about sticking to Xeric plants, and their work is forward looking. With any luck, these plants will grow and fill in, the bluebonnets will reseed, and what now looks rather bare bones will get some healthy heft, without losing the underlying structure.

Stan’s gardens should also look good in our infernal stretch, June-September.

No bones about it, cutting garden – April 2009

Photo: Human Flower Project

Our amateur bed has been looking pretty wonderful too these past couple of weeks. The poppies came on strong after several thins, nasturiums are doing well, some of the larkspur reseeded, and we’ve even tucked a few zinnias in. What’s lost in design, we gain in abundance. There’s “no place for the eye to rest.” If you’re weary, blink! We couldn’t stand pulling out a volunteer sunflower, so there it is, completely out of place. We would apologize, but….

Unlike Stan’s beds, which should hold their own, even fortify in the coming months, ours is on its way out. Stiff winds are pulling the poppies apart. The larkspur blooms have climbed nearly all the way up. Once we collect poppy seed, we’ll be looking for other “cutting garden” plants to fill in here but can’t really imagine what they could be. Chances are, after another week or so, this spot will be rather dull until next March.

Our fellow Austinites know this has been a heavenly spell weatherwise – some rain, sunshine, and crispness these past couple of weeks – which explains why our side garden looks as it does right now. Partly why. The other, bigger reason is that Stan and Alfonso and William made the whole yard seem interesting and habitable again. Maintaining what they accomplished, and lapping up the compliments, we have a new sense of what’s possible. We paid the Joneses to keep up with them. Who knows where we’ll go from here?

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