An Iowa Garden

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My current garden is actually my fourth in a series (I tend to have itchy feet). Each of those gardens was noteworthy for what did well growing in them... and what didn't. For example, in our present garden I've been able to grow all manner of ladyslipper orchids, hardy cyclamens, Japanese maples, and other plants that are unusual in gardens here in Iowa, but I can't grow plain old aquilegias worth a hoot. In previous gardens, I'd just scatter their seed about and have them by the dozens that would each fill a bushel basket. Here, columbines usually sulk about for a year or two, then just disappear. I know it's a bit shady for them in our present garden, but there's something more to it than that, for even in relatively sunny spots they flop. Perhaps they feel slighted, being a rather common plant amongst all the hoity-toitys imported at great expense from specialty nurseries. I've never thought of myself as being one of those insufferable garden snobs, though I do confess to making a brief, half-hearted attempt when we first moved here to label our property "Cedar Point"... or was it "Cedar Pointe"? Unfortunately our friends just kept calling it "lizndon's place" like they always had, so that went by the wayside.
Whatever the reason; whether it's something in the sun, the soil, the water, or the attitude, I've just about given up on aquilegias... and let's not even talk about daisies!


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