Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.

Luther Burbank

My current garden is quite different from my original vision. It is more organic in shape and style then a typical English style garden would be. The majority of the plantings are specifically intended to attract beneficial insects. I am also very interested in increasing biodiversity, sustainability and ease of care. The plants flower at different times of the year, so there is (almost) always something in bloom. I’m always seeking to change and improve my garden – I move plants around my garden the way some people move their furniture. My mantra is that if you don’t like where it is you can always dig it up and move it. Perhaps the plant is just not thriving in its current location. Change is an important part of any garden – after all, nature is always growing and evolving, we should try to evolve with it.

Of course, it’s far easier to move small perennials than large trees, but in my younger days I would endeavor to relocate large rhododendrons and lilacs by myself with just a tarp and a shovel. I even managed to successfully move a small dogwood tree, which was just about my upwards limit. As I’ve become older and wiser I no longer move big shrubs or trees by myself, but I still rearrange plantings with some frequency, tweaking this and that and even rearranging entire areas on a yearly basis.