Summer tragedy gives rise to new garden possibilities

When I discovered that my coveted grove of White Fir trees had been attacked and killed over winter by the current epidemic of White Fir Beetles , I was heartsick. My favorite “Christmas trees” are so beautiful and sweet-smelling and having to have them all cut out was devastating. The cost for having it done was pretty devastating too.

The small grove of about a dozen trees was located at the far side of my sanctuary garden — the perfect spot to wander into and hang out an occasional bird-house and-or “hug a tree.” This has now been decimated to three or four medium size trees that survived the beetles, leaving a row of Serviceberry bushes the only ‘privacy bar’ between my and the neighbors’ properties. Tall and berry-laden, they are beloved by the birds and do provide an attractive shrubby hedge of sorts.

As work continued on clearing and cutting I was so busy feeling sorry for myself and the trees that I pretty much avoided the site. But one day, after final cleanup (except for getting the branches to the dump) I strolled out to look around and was stunned at the new openness of the denuded area. My trusty “handyman” — a family friend with a big heart — had cleared and raked the entire area which was now miraculously open to the sky! I immediately thought “Bulbs!”

Patches of open earth offered room for planting ideas that popped up — an area of broadcasted daffodil, jonquil, narcissus and Allium bulbs — (deer don’t like any of these) — elsewhere, clusters of hardy leafy and/or floral ornamentals, native and cultivated selections such as Pulmonaria, Brunnera, various ferns, Bleeding heart, Columbine, Foxglove, and all the Campanulas. I’ll also transplant some of my hardy Betony, along with the pretty but thuggish Campanula Glomerata — because in a brand new garden you need all the hardy thugs you can get!

You can see that a true garden lovers’ heart cannot long stay broken when such possibilities are apparent!

So, when September wanes, I’ll get a few bags of Black Gold to cover the dry, hungry dusty duff left by the departed trees, water it all in well, then top it with several bags of good potting soil. This too, I’ll water a bit before tossing the bulb choices and planting them where they land. Another small clearing will receive the afore-named plants, many transplanted from the sanctuary area.

A sunny patch will host a few assorted edibles — high and low-bush blueberries, including the pink-bearing cultivar — also Thimbleberries (for their great foliage), and blackberries , if I can find some. Rule of thumb will be just enough for me to snack on, but not enough to tempt a bear.

Looking back a couple of paragraphs, any area gardener could see the lesson in planting choices. For newcomers or recent arrivals, consider the suggestions as a “primer” — for every selection is a tried and true north Idaho-friendly plant. You’ll notice I didn’t choose Coral bells (Heuchera) — though I love them and their great leaf-color variations, they just don’t make it under tough conditions. I also didn’t select Hosta; though it is hardy and lovely, it is a deer magnet. We here do not need that with the hungry hordes of Whitetail and Mule deer coming down from the hills in wintertime.

A word about Brunnera: As you can see from the photos, they are very pretty. But much more than that, they reproduce beautifully in a woodsy-type landscape — which is what I have. They take away any grief over the loss of Hosta and Coral bells with their very hardiness as well as the attractive variety of leaf pattern. They work well with our native Pulmonaria (Lungwort), which, with its namesake silvery-spotted heart-shaped leaves is super hardy. A grouping including these two, along with some native and-or other hardy ferns, makes a pretty garden display. Speaking of ferns, I hope you don’t look askance at our native Bracken fern — large though it is, it is shiny and beautiful, and when it turns brown is very easy to simply pull out if you’re of that frame of mind.

So — out of the “ashes” will come new life — hopefully — I am after all pretty darn old. The “Sanctuary Garden” has taken on a life of its own through the years, and from a carefully designed plan turned into a wildwood mix of natives and chosen cultivars, upstart trespassers and purchased beauties — all residing together in lovely harmony. It’s sort of a Garden of Eden — without any apple tree - and

I’ve been blessed just to sit there in peaceful silence, with only bird chatter or bee-hum, and let my cares simply float away.

If you ever want to chat about gardens, feel free to call any time after 8 a.m. up to 7 p.m. at 208-265-4688. I’ll return your call if I’m out.

Valle Novak writes the Country Chef and Weekend Gardener columns for the Daily Bee. She can be reached at bcdailybee@bonnercountydailybee.com. or by phone at 208-265-4688.