People need to hush about "messy gardens". The name of the channel is Wild Approach, lol. I have both clean and messy gardens. I want to try to emulate actual wildlife with my native plants and that's FINE! Keep doin' what you're doing! It looks great!
Thank you! Yes, I just want all native gardens to be embraced, whether messy or formal. I think there's beauty in the spectrum of it all. :) I prefer messy, but I'd never want to force a native gardener that there's has to be messy. Basically, let's appreciate all types of native gardens and habitats. They all can play vital roles in the ecosystem! :D
My front yard is done in a more formal style with 98% natives. In my meadow, side, and back yard, I embrace the messy. I have more diversity of insects and toads, skinks, etc in the messy areas. I celebrate each time my sown natives seed or spread into our woods. The woods are full of invasives that I dig out or pull as I have the energy. I have Fibromyalgia so a fussy, manicured, clipped, soil changing, deadheading garden just isn't possible.
Oh, trust me, so far so good on both my neighbors' accounts and the channel comments. I'm mostly commenting on the community as a whole and the seeming preference for formal native gardens or the idea that "native gardens don't have to be messy," implying a negative connotation to that notion. I often see a push to choose between formal or prairie. There used to be more talk of "pocket prairies," but I don't hear much about those these days. Instead I notice more talk of keeping up with the Joneses with our native gardens. I agree with cues to care, but we also shouldn't feel we have to keep it sterile and closely clipped. I get lots of compliments in person, too, and so it's funny how the "messy" look gets denounced online a lot. LOL :) I blame HOA's...but I digress...
One formal bed is along our front porch. It just has Winterberry shrubs with Dwarf Crested iris as a ground cover. Having just 2 types of plants makes it appear formal. Another border across a long blank wall facing the front of the house is planted with Arrowwood Viburnum shrubs with Woodland Phlox between them and Pennsylvania Sedge along the edges. The 3rd border under a front bedroom window has Northern Sea Oats in the back, Maidenhair and Cinnamon ferns in front surrounding a Florida Dogwood. The rest of our 3.6 acres is embracing the messy.
People need to hush about "messy gardens". The name of the channel is Wild Approach, lol. I have both clean and messy gardens. I want to try to emulate actual wildlife with my native plants and that's FINE! Keep doin' what you're doing! It looks great!
Thank you! Yes, I just want all native gardens to be embraced, whether messy or formal. I think there's beauty in the spectrum of it all. :) I prefer messy, but I'd never want to force a native gardener that there's has to be messy. Basically, let's appreciate all types of native gardens and habitats. They all can play vital roles in the ecosystem! :D
My front yard is done in a more formal style with 98% natives. In my meadow, side, and back yard, I embrace the messy. I have more diversity of insects and toads, skinks, etc in the messy areas. I celebrate each time my sown natives seed or spread into our woods. The woods are full of invasives that I dig out or pull as I have the energy. I have Fibromyalgia so a fussy, manicured, clipped, soil changing, deadheading garden just isn't possible.
I love all that you've said! Your gardens sound absolutely stunning and you're giving me loads of ideas to implement in my own garden. Thank you!
I have a messy garden & people stop me when I am working & compliment me. No one ever made a negative remark.
Oh, trust me, so far so good on both my neighbors' accounts and the channel comments. I'm mostly commenting on the community as a whole and the seeming preference for formal native gardens or the idea that "native gardens don't have to be messy," implying a negative connotation to that notion. I often see a push to choose between formal or prairie. There used to be more talk of "pocket prairies," but I don't hear much about those these days. Instead I notice more talk of keeping up with the Joneses with our native gardens. I agree with cues to care, but we also shouldn't feel we have to keep it sterile and closely clipped. I get lots of compliments in person, too, and so it's funny how the "messy" look gets denounced online a lot. LOL :) I blame HOA's...but I digress...
One formal bed is along our front porch. It just has Winterberry shrubs with Dwarf Crested iris as a ground cover. Having just 2 types of plants makes it appear formal. Another border across a long blank wall facing the front of the house is planted with Arrowwood Viburnum shrubs with Woodland Phlox between them and Pennsylvania Sedge along the edges. The 3rd border under a front bedroom window has Northern Sea Oats in the back, Maidenhair and Cinnamon ferns in front surrounding a Florida Dogwood. The rest of our 3.6 acres is embracing the messy.
Messy gardens are prettier, easier, more affordable, and better for wildlife.
That's what I'm saying! :) And I just love them.
Embrace the mess
uh huh :)