If plants can adapt so, too, should gardenersBy Joe Lamp'l
Sept. 4, 2006—Even as I write, the rented trailer used to haul my plants from our old house now sits empty in front of our new house, two states away.
Yesterday was the actual move from our home in Atlanta. The day before was the hardest by far. While the movers were busy inside, packing and hauling furniture and boxes to the truck, I was busy outside, digging up and moving plants that would accompany me to our new home in North Carolina.
To transport the maximum number of plants, I rented the largest trailer available to me. It was a dual axel, 6-by-12 foot model. But as big as it was, I knew it wasn't big enough. I had even contemplated not only renting their largest truck, but adding a tow package.
Although more than a hundred plants were potted and ready to go, I was having trouble, just like any other plant-a-holic would, defining how much is ever really enough? In spite of the numerous plants designated for the move, I still wanted to claim more.
Limited only by time and the physical space of the trailer floor, I knew my plant selections that would actually make the move were, unfortunately, finite. I loaded the containers one by one onto my cart and made the trek up the garden path, where I would transfer them.
Shortly into the loading process, I knew I was in trouble. With no time to prune and cut back, each plant went into the trailer, replete with all branches and foliage. Although every square inch was utilized, I ran out of space well before I ran out of plants.
Thankfully, Jim, my neighbor from across the street, volunteered to keep my extra plants in his yard until I can come back to collect them. However, he did warn me that my large and prized Japanese maple might be planted at his mountain cabin by the time I came back to reclaim it.
Confident that I had reached and possibly exceeded capacity, I soaked all the plants one more time for the long hot drive. Last night I arrived at our new home. The plants fared well, thanks in part to an overcast and rainy day, helping to keep the potential oven-like temperatures to a more reasonable range.
Plant by plant, I unloaded my cargo. With each walk down the empty driveway, I surveyed the new yard, trying to imagine where each would make its mark.
Thankfully, the yard is somewhat of a blank and neglected pallet. Once the bed lines are cut and the soil amended, I'll start placing those hundred plus perennials, shrubs and trees into their new environment.
Plants are amazing in their ability to adapt to change. In spite of being uprooted and transplanted two states away, most won't miss a beat as they firmly take hold in the surrounding soil.
As my family and I settle into our new environment, I will strive to fair as well. As exciting as a new move can be, each plant that traveled with me will serve as a valuable reminder that I should be adaptable, too, and set out new roots and grow where I'm planted.
(Joe Lamp'l, a master gardener, hosts DIY's Fresh from the Garden as well as a gardening radio show. For more information, visit www.joegardener.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
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