Scuse Me While I Drive 35 in a 50

Just how many plants can be squeezed into this Jetta? Depends on how slowly I can drive home.

Sorry folks. The sourwood hanging out my open trunk cant take high winds. I know the speed limit is 50 mph, but its just a few miles more, I promise.

Thats right, sourwood.Oxydendron arboreum. A dandy little understory tree Ive been coveting since I became a gardener nearly 20 years ago. A tree I had never seen in person until its blazing fall foliage stopped me short at the garden center about half an hour ago.

You see, I just moved from Zone 3b to Zone 5b, with microclimates that might extend well into Zone 6, and it is hard to contain my excitement. In my mind, I am rolling around on the lawn (whats left of it) giggling with joy, dazed by the explosion of possible plants. Like every other gardener, I have this wish list of plants that I keep adding to, even though I understand that many of them will never, ever survive in my current garden. What a thrill to actually upgrade those items from in your dreams, Minnesota gardener to the sure, why not? category.

Peaches. Broadleaf evergreens. Japanese maples? Just bought one, ha! Agave might even survive if I build a hill of gravel in a protected area with full sun Hmmm. Ill muse on that as I plant these pineleaf penstemons (Penstemon pinifolius) and sunset hyssop (Agastache rupestris), both of which were recently upgraded.

(pause for another bout of internal giggling)

Yes, I moved from Minneapolis to Boise to be near my family, but also to live closer to my good friend the sun. It is early November and autumn is still reluctantly giving way to winter here. As long as my fingers dont get too numb from the cold, I can work into the wee hours within the area lit by the exterior lights on the garage.

This is my second carload from the nursery. My mom and sister and their gardening friends have given me plants, and I also ordered bulbs. Scuse me while I keep digging, mulching, smothering lawn, and moving rocks way past bedtime; its been awhile since I had this much fun playing outside.

Via: Scuse Me While I Drive 35 in a 50