This is the tale of “The Little Box That Could.” The box - 4’x4’ - sits out front of Tinkertown Hardware in Alfred Station. Back in March, Roger asked if I would plant the box with flowers. I said “Yes”… IF you fellows would get rid of the weeds, add a few bags of top soil and after planting, keep it weeded and watered! What a deal! The best part of gardening is the planning… and planting!
So what did we want in our little, sunny space? I decided on a summer garden with pollinator friendly flowers which would bloom from late May through early September. All but one were perennials, only Borage is an annual, but one that self-sows.
Due to the crazy spring weather, we did not plant until mid-June. I dug the nine plants from my garden and ruthlessly trimmed them by half. It did not take long to place them in their new home. The fellows produced a bag of mulch and Brandon (who had come to buy something) cheerfully helped me spread it around while one of the employees hauled out a hose so everything could be watered in. Done!
Now what is in the Box? In order of bloom (yes, the truncated plants will bloom even if a month late):
1. Two clumps of Siberian Iris – one deep purple, the other lavender. The dark one is descendant of 12 brought from my Mom’s on Long Island 30 years ago
2. A center piece of Silver Green Borage with delicate sky blue flowers which are edible. Trim it back in August and it will rebloom to frost.
3. The low growing Lavender and two Verbena. The former, lavender of course, the others a dark purple with dark green feathery leaves.
4. Liatris soon follows in July, a spikey plant with rosy, purple flowers which reach 18 inches in height.
5. Starting in August is the Cardinal flower, a deep magenta red. It too is - 2 ½ feet at least.
The color scheme, as you can see is shades of blue - lavender - red. These flowers are pest free, hardy and loved by the bees and butterflies. By the end of next summer, they will have filled up the space and be hanging over the edge. As with all worthy projects, patience is necessary.
Come by and see the Little Box grow and remind the fellows to keep weeding and watering!
