When we first arrived here, I think we had grandiose plans about the landscape. There is such a thing as too much space. What we envisioned, in terms of landscaping and plans, was way more than two elders could ever achieve, or maintain. We planted, willy-nilly.
We learned. Poor soils, invasive knapweed, ravenous rabbits and deer, outsized ideas. Some things, we did right. And others–well, plants died or failed to thrive, or found themselves poorly situated. We’re still learning.
In one area, we thought we’d plant a hedge of blooming and berry-yielding plants–for the bees. It’s time to re-assess. There are just too many critters competing for those delicious plants. Between the deer, the bunnies, the voles, the moles and the mice, it’s a wonder any of them are still alive. They should not have to spend their lives in cages (which only make them difficult to maintain); it’s time to transplant what’s left into areas where they will thrive. So yesterday I started. I have blueberries, honey berries, high bush cranberries, rhubarb, elderberries and saskatoons to relocate. They belong in the fenced garden, with the other domesticated plants. Unlike the blackberries, they have no defenses. What were we thinking?
In the interim, we’ve moved the bees up the hill–largely to get them away from nearby fields that are sprayed and treated with neonics.
So now we are rethinking the various spaces in the garden. By the time we finish, this fenced area is going to be packed–and that’s okay. Some things can stay where they are–the redbuds and lilacs are safe enough. I may even put in some dogwood varieties (Cornelian cherries). After all, some things we do plant for the wildlife. This will be the year of transition and reckoning. It will be busy. But in the meantime, it’s like musical chairs, these plants have no idea where they’ll end up, when the music stops.
How do you tell a plant that this is good news?
tworockchronicles 
Some of my rhubarb appears to have survived the digging puppy beast. I filmed it for you. Will send later.
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Not surprising. I was shocked at the rootball on the rhubarb. It’s only been there three years or so, but took some digging to get it out! I split it into seven new plants. If you want a puppy proof garden, go big on rhubarb.
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My rhubarb is over 40 years old. I split it years ago bec it was out of control and they came to fix the retaining wall with heavy equipment anyway in the rhubarb plot. I transplanted it to another location and then it survived and multiplied and continue growing until puppy arrived. But based on what I saw yesterday it looks like we’re going to have at least two plants come up regardless. Rhubarb is a very hardy plant.
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You make the same sort of mistakes in every new garden. As you say, it is the scale in your case. Difficult for someone like me to even visualise the scale and the invaders that you face. Amelia
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It’s a matter of recognizing that you let the wild parts be wild. If it isn’t inside the garden fence, it gets very little help. Even the hazelnuts, once planted, are on their own. Our objective is to have “canopy.” We mostly plant for the planet.
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Love the catchy title and theme – musical chairs.!
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