What a lovely piece, thank you. It immediately reminded me of one of my favorite books from 2023, Daniel Mason's "North Woods." And as the inheritor of over a dozen neglected peony bushes planted some 30 years ago by the former owner of my current house, I am glad you kept those peonies and hope they reward you with their beauty and fragrance for many years to come.
Joseph, thanks for this lovely piece. As an avid gardener for 35 years and having moved numerous times in that period, I've tended many beloved gardens. One of my favorite past times is to sit in my current garden and remember those left-behind gardens. It had never occurred to me to consider how those 'ghost gardens' might be living on with current owners of those properties. Now I have a new twist to my reminiscences.
What a picture this paints.....I too explored the woods and streams of my past....loveing it. I learned so much about plants and nature. I remember my grandparents wonderful garden on South Barr st. in Ft. Wayne Indiana...filled with flowers...vegetables androses.....Such memories. There was a fabulous martin house at the far side of the garden....gorgeous birds...true masters of he air.
Loved this bit of writing and the idea of garden ghosts. Over my life I've built gardens at five homes (2 rentals and 3 I've owned) and frequently wonder about the gardens I've left behind. I will definitely one day be a benign ghost in my current garden.
I'm so sorry about the knotweed, but happy you have your ghost. I read once that when you spot vinca in the forest it might be an indication of an old gravesite. It was apparently often planted near graves in earlier times. My favorite is to find domestic fruit trees in the forest.
I came to know and grow colchicums because they were planted in the yard of the old farmhouse we moved into. Rescued bearded irises and a daffodil I called 'Kathy's Sweetheart' until I figured out it was an heirloom variety called 'Stella'. I even wrote an article for Fine Gardening called "Digging Up a Garden's History."
What a delightful story! I like your terminology of "Garden Ghosts". I have personally moved my Great-Grandmother's peonies from the family farm to my house and my father's house. Also, my Grandmother's Irises. Both originally planted in the fence border around the farm house that burnt down.
Ononis spinosa has been one of MY worst intros to Denver Botanic Gardens--a cause of much cursing in my direction by subsequent curators. A wonderful piece of writing, as we come to expect!
Thank you for this beautiful and evocative piece! That peony recalls ones my father grew.
My current house came with a variety of lovely bulbs, a few perennials, and a nightmare of knotweed on the steep slope behind the shed. Over the last twenty years I weeded. I solarized. I covered with carpet, with heavy plastic. It grew. I dug six-foot runners and head-sized root nodules. I burned the roots. I currently hack down new growth regularly through the season so it won’t go to seed, and do some spot glyphosate in fall. This has allowed me to contain the evil one. ;)
It is a vicious plant... I too have grudgingly used glyphosate on my knotweed. I don't like using herbicides, but in this battle I need every weapon I can get.
I am a garden ghost, having planted huge beds of perennials, shrubs and trees at an old house I owned in New England for 15 years. I didn’t think I would ever leave, and am kind of sorry I did. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet the older couple who bought the house from me and inherited the gardens. She was shocked that I was the sole gardener at the property. It was too early in spring to see how the perennials fared (like the peonies) but the lilacs were reaching for the sky and the Hawthorn tree was still feeding flocks of Cedar Waxwings. It was a little eerie to be there - I really did feel like a ghost. I appreciate that you took the time to research your garden ghost. I really intended that garden to outlive me, and perhaps it will and some future gardener will be conversing with me!
That was lovely! I'm glad you saved the peonies! Have you tried "Peacock Systems" for supporting them? Or you could use a knock-off, I've used both and just leave them in the garden - supporting Baptisia and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium that tends to flop.
Just one correction, it wasn't *illegal* for Charlotte to have a mortgage in 1940 - just difficult. The 1974 ECOA law enforced protections against the discrimination against single women by banks, credit card companies and other businesses. My understanding is that although this discrimination was widespread it was not actually illegal. Immoral and disgusting though, right?
What a lovely piece, thank you. It immediately reminded me of one of my favorite books from 2023, Daniel Mason's "North Woods." And as the inheritor of over a dozen neglected peony bushes planted some 30 years ago by the former owner of my current house, I am glad you kept those peonies and hope they reward you with their beauty and fragrance for many years to come.
Oh I've not heard of that book! I'll have to find it.
Was thinking the same thing about North Woods!
Joseph, thanks for this lovely piece. As an avid gardener for 35 years and having moved numerous times in that period, I've tended many beloved gardens. One of my favorite past times is to sit in my current garden and remember those left-behind gardens. It had never occurred to me to consider how those 'ghost gardens' might be living on with current owners of those properties. Now I have a new twist to my reminiscences.
What a picture this paints.....I too explored the woods and streams of my past....loveing it. I learned so much about plants and nature. I remember my grandparents wonderful garden on South Barr st. in Ft. Wayne Indiana...filled with flowers...vegetables androses.....Such memories. There was a fabulous martin house at the far side of the garden....gorgeous birds...true masters of he air.
Loved this bit of writing and the idea of garden ghosts. Over my life I've built gardens at five homes (2 rentals and 3 I've owned) and frequently wonder about the gardens I've left behind. I will definitely one day be a benign ghost in my current garden.
I'm so sorry about the knotweed, but happy you have your ghost. I read once that when you spot vinca in the forest it might be an indication of an old gravesite. It was apparently often planted near graves in earlier times. My favorite is to find domestic fruit trees in the forest.
I never found any graves, but maybe there are there too.
The fruit trees are fun to find -- the few apples they manage to produce are a nice snack while hiking!
Love the article. Keep talking to Charlotte. I’m sure she loves what you’ve done with the garden.
I will!
I came to know and grow colchicums because they were planted in the yard of the old farmhouse we moved into. Rescued bearded irises and a daffodil I called 'Kathy's Sweetheart' until I figured out it was an heirloom variety called 'Stella'. I even wrote an article for Fine Gardening called "Digging Up a Garden's History."
What a delightful story! I like your terminology of "Garden Ghosts". I have personally moved my Great-Grandmother's peonies from the family farm to my house and my father's house. Also, my Grandmother's Irises. Both originally planted in the fence border around the farm house that burnt down.
Wonderful to be able to keep those plants with you! Such memories every time they bloom.
Wonderful article. Thank you!
Ononis spinosa has been one of MY worst intros to Denver Botanic Gardens--a cause of much cursing in my direction by subsequent curators. A wonderful piece of writing, as we come to expect!
It is so pretty... but so vicious!
Perfect piece
Thank you!
Beautiful piece Joesph. Glad you kept those peonies
Thank you! I am too.
Love this thought of a garden ghost!
Thank you for this beautiful and evocative piece! That peony recalls ones my father grew.
My current house came with a variety of lovely bulbs, a few perennials, and a nightmare of knotweed on the steep slope behind the shed. Over the last twenty years I weeded. I solarized. I covered with carpet, with heavy plastic. It grew. I dug six-foot runners and head-sized root nodules. I burned the roots. I currently hack down new growth regularly through the season so it won’t go to seed, and do some spot glyphosate in fall. This has allowed me to contain the evil one. ;)
It is a vicious plant... I too have grudgingly used glyphosate on my knotweed. I don't like using herbicides, but in this battle I need every weapon I can get.
I am a garden ghost, having planted huge beds of perennials, shrubs and trees at an old house I owned in New England for 15 years. I didn’t think I would ever leave, and am kind of sorry I did. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet the older couple who bought the house from me and inherited the gardens. She was shocked that I was the sole gardener at the property. It was too early in spring to see how the perennials fared (like the peonies) but the lilacs were reaching for the sky and the Hawthorn tree was still feeding flocks of Cedar Waxwings. It was a little eerie to be there - I really did feel like a ghost. I appreciate that you took the time to research your garden ghost. I really intended that garden to outlive me, and perhaps it will and some future gardener will be conversing with me!
That was lovely! I'm glad you saved the peonies! Have you tried "Peacock Systems" for supporting them? Or you could use a knock-off, I've used both and just leave them in the garden - supporting Baptisia and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium that tends to flop.
Just one correction, it wasn't *illegal* for Charlotte to have a mortgage in 1940 - just difficult. The 1974 ECOA law enforced protections against the discrimination against single women by banks, credit card companies and other businesses. My understanding is that although this discrimination was widespread it was not actually illegal. Immoral and disgusting though, right?