Note to self: English ivy must be eliminated

After a long weekend luxuriating in a Seattle spring, I returned expecting my garden to be as dismal as I left it.

But I was stunned to see the green bursting forth from the dead leaf cover in every part of the garden. Then the awareness of the work that would consume the next few weeks weakened my knees.

Standing at the edges of each garden, I began finger-raking the leaves off daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, pulmonaria and other miscellaneous spring greeters. My hands had become soft over the long winter, my nails were unaccustomed to being unclean, and my back hadn’t bent over for sustained periods for months. A rake helped the hands, but it’ll take a tub soak to ease the back.

As I moved around the garden (not through; it’s too early to step into most areas of the garden), I mentally plotted the places for the new perennials purchased on the Seattle trip. Some would fill in where empty spaces resulted from bad choices; others would find themselves with new companions to improve the overall look and feel of the garden. I resolved to bring more color in where the impression was strongly green foliage. For this I chose plants with more variegation, standout flowers, and contrasting leaf and stem structures.

Notes were also made of some pruning tasks that will result in better shaping, enhanced growth, and increase light and air accessibility. The trees and shrubs are vital for the bird and butterfly visitors to the garden, so pruning is always done to maintain adequate shelter and increase food sources for songbirds and coveys of quail.

Pruning also helps to frame the garden visually and keeps it the desired size.

This year I have resolved that the English ivy, planted by a previous owner, has gone too far. Previous expansions have been torn off the house and chimney and dug and pulled from the north side to make way for a fine perennial shade garden.

Now, the invasion must be terminated completely. All means available, except ones that would be harmful to the soil, the birds, or humans, will be employed.

I look for no miracles, just slow steady progress of elimination and replanting with more desirable plant material.

Concluding her recent article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on invasive plants, Marty Wingate, wrote: “What role is a plant to play in your garden? When you decide that, you can eliminate the poor choices and concentrate on the plants that will add beauty – not the problems – to your garden.”