Advice for the Horticulturally Harassed
Dr. C. was a regular writer and hortipersonality at BHN for many years until his retirement in 2011. As a nod to the 1980’s, we are herein reprinting an article from another era.
Count Your Blessings
Regarding an inquiry about a prayer spotted on a plaque in an English garden, perhaps it was The Gardener’s Prayer by Karl Capek, spotted by Dr. Chlorophyll in an old issue of English Garden magazine:
Oh Lord, grant that in some way it might rain every day,
say about midnight, until three o’clock in the morning.
But you see, it must be gentle and warm so it can soak in.
Grant that at the same time it will not rain on campion, alyssum,
helianthemum, lavender, or others which You in Your wisdom know
are drought loving plants. I will write their names on a bit of paper if You wish.
And grant that the sun may shine the whole day long,
but not everywhere. Not, for instance, on spirea, or
on gentian, plantain lily and rhododendron and not too much.
That there may be plenty of dew and little wind, enough worms,
no plant lice and snails, no mildew, and that once a week
thin liquid manure and guano may fall from heaven.