Here in Twisted Weeds chaotic garden, we aim to work less and enjoy more. This doesn’t mean that we haven’t worked hard in the past, but as we age we aim to hardly work at all. The mighty husband built fences, then we planted hazelnuts and dwarf apples, disturbing the existing plants as little as possible (such as ferns), with the exception of stinging nettles. I harvested them and steeped them in buckets of water, using the tea as fertilizer.
My husband planted roses. I knocked down a ridiculously steep mound (left after the area was originally logged) and turned it into an herb bed after adding some unfinished compost. I planted rosemary (king of the hill), lavender, comfrey, oregano, sage and thyme (they eventually disappeared under the rosemary, lavender, and oregano), and an unknown flowering plant that I bought in a 4-inch pot because it seemed like it would grow anywhere.
I planted this mystery under a tree in the middle of our driveway but quickly realized it needed more sun so I transplanted it at the edge of the herb bed. Oh my…it has become a woody shrub. As soon as it flowers, I’ll try to identify it. Meanwhile I chop and drop around the edges, trying to keep it from devouring the narrow path and everything else it encounters…
There are also a few berry bushes in this chaos, as well as an elderberry and a couple of attempts at raised beds. So far only potatoes have withstood the rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and birds. I shall continue to try…but not too hard.
It is definitely the survival of the fittest in this messy but beautiful place.
Don’t even ask what is all there…oregano everywhere, weeds too. Volunteer potatoes. I love it all and it returns the favor.