From journaling to blogging seems like a logical move, or so I tell myself as I post in the Possumhaw Garden Blog for the first time. My collection of garden journals dates back more than ten years, and I keep a stack of them near my favorite chair for both reference and armchair gardening. They are my proof positive of how long ago I planted the dwarf crested iris under the dogwoods or when we moved the bird bath to the back garden. Between the journal covers, I have scribbled down the names of plants shared from a neighbor's garden and confessed to the frustration of a battle against bermuda grass in my daylily beds. My garden journals make me happy and help me learn from my mistakes. They are also where I keep my wish lists and to-do lists.
I'm not giving up my journals, but now I'm excited about this electronic version of the gardening journal, with a twist. I'll be writing for someone other than myself. My daughters have encouraged me to become a garden blogger, so with a full day of raking the last of the winter leaves and pulling wayward vinca behind me, I'm at the keyboard.
Why the Possumhaw Garden? In January, when there was not much color in the landscape and spring seemed too far away, I was going to town and spotted a tree covered in bright red berries on the corner of the old Sellars' place. I'd seen that tree before, but not like that--in technicolor. I almost pulled into the driveway for a closer look. Two hours later, I found out it was a Possumhaw Holly, Deciduous Holly (Ilex decidua). The color of the berries made me smile that morning. The name made me laugh that afternoon. Possumhaw is now on my wish list and raking the last of the leaves from the flower beds is checked off the to-do list.
