com·pan·ion plant·ing:
noun
-
the close planting of different plants that enhance each other’s growth or protect each other from pests.
Companion planting, now here is a term very near and dear to my heart.
I step out this morning into my garden under skies the bluest of blue. A few wispy clouds feather the vastness of this painting before me.
As always, first things first, I search for the perfect spot to let the glory of the sun shine down on me. To warm my skin, to lift me up, to shower me with light, to make me shine. As I slowly open my eyes, my gaze falls to a couple of stately old gentleman giants that stand proudly together on guard as they have done for many , many years. Cedar trees planted long before we moved here.
Along side one of the cedars, a few years ago I added a trumpet vine. Today I can see the vine elegantly weaving it ‘s way to the very top of the tree, reaching for a bit of that blue. The flowers of this vine bright orangey red trumpets are kind enough to decorate these two crusty old titans with their loveliness. Attracting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and orioles to their sweetness.
My husband hasn’t always been quite as enthusiastic about my ideas of companion planting, however, today I take him with me to look way up as I point out how effortlessly this unlikely pair compliment each other with divine beauty. Neither taking away nor over crowding the other.
Next my love and I go to do a bit of work in the front gardens. Now it is my turn to be less than enthusiastic as my husband tries to convince me that removing a few of the over zealous growers would provide just a little breathing space to some of the less pushy but equally as beautiful girls of the chorus. Also perhaps a quick trim of a few branches would ‘open things up a bit’. This he knows will take a little convincing. As our various shrubs and vines thicken and grow, they accentuate my lovely sanctuary, making things feel very private and ‘fortress’ like. This to me in my introverted nature, is heaven! However, as with all things we are in this together and I try to open myself up to letting a little more light in and allowing others room to grow. As with our gardens, partnerships are always works in progress and I think we are blessed my love and I, to compliment each other in these ways.
Later I return to working in one of the back gardens, I work to offer a wandering violet room to roam. A lovely large toad plumps along beside me and I feel the need to grant him safe passage as our little dog thinks Mr. Toad would be fun to toss around. Once he has sufficiently found a safe haven among the leaves, I decide to maybe leave this corner, just as it is.
It seems to me there is always balance and beauty in growing together, in idling together, in complimenting each other, in looking, in listening, in learning together,
like trumpets and cedars, like sunshine and clouds, like you and I .
Companion planting.
Planting companions ♥