Nov 1st and a freak storm sweeps thru with slushy snow and cold and I rush out to cover my tiny two year old GUNNERA MANICATA with the only material available- slushy straw. It will probably die. I had everything else under control- I do the “getting ready for winter” thing early not because I’m particularly efficient but rather fond taking things easy -I’m like to do it early when the weather is still nice and stay inside when it gets cold and dark and dreary. But I had left the Gunnera- for only god knows why. Actually I think it was a Freudian slip because deep in my heart I know I shouldn’t try to grow it.
Why did I buy it??? DA DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, DA DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!! (Now you know how old I am- old enough to know better!) Why did I buy it? What was I thinking of? I have a faint recollection of an inaudible whisper in the back of my mind saying exactly that at the time of purchase.
I know exactly what it was- it was all the seductive pictures I’ve seen in English gardening magazines and books portraying this plant as the absolutely magnificent plant that it is, when grown under the right conditions. This isn’t the first time. After a trip to France I ran out and bought a Cortadera selloana Pampas grass. Same story – you notice I like BIG.
I can try to defend myself with the fact that this is a disease shared by all my nerdy garden friends. Like the Tradescants, Banks and Linné we are always on the look out for rarities, beautiful plants that belong in a hardiness zone at least one warmer than our own. Our journeys however take us only as far as regional plant nurseries-the more specialized the better- usually a whole busload of us together -total shopaholics köpoman let loose and egging each other on.
Maybe we’re descendants of those famous plant hunters or the plant-hunting gene is attached to the gardening interest gene. Perhaps it’s inherent universal survival of the species behaviour i.e. always looking for improvements -making sure that evolution progresses along its merry path. Or is it Star Trek-”to go where no man has gone before”? Maybe were just snobs.
I have nothing against snobs but it’s just so damn much work. (And I’m not getting any younger you see.) I always think “well it’s such a beautiful plant that it’s worth a little extra care, winter protection, pruning or …...” One such plant is realistic but I keep collecting them with that philosophy and in the process creating the VERY high maintenance garden.
I am going to start listening to my little voice if…. I could just get rid of that magnificent picture floating in the back of my mind of a 15x4 ft Dahila hedge.