lady IN the
Garden
M
y Sanctuary move-in story took place six years ago! It’s hard to believe it has been that long. When we decided to make The Sanctuary our new home, my husband Stephen was told by our Finch Lane cul-de-sac neighbors that he was either going to be a hero or in BIG trouble. He and my oldest son Connor decided to surprise me and move our family to our new house on Finch Lane while I was overseas visiting my youngest son Gaven. The surprise was a huge success with the help of some very good friends and their truck. When I returned from overseas, I was collected from the airport by my husband and taken straight to our new house in The Sanctuary. It was a lovely surprise, and Stephen wasn’t in trouble. I got busy renovating the house on Finch Lane inside and out, which is where my gardening story begins. I have learned some valuable lessons as a dedicated gardener who lives in The Sanctuary. I am happy to pass these lessons on to others. My first experience with the limitations of what you can and cannot plant in The Sanctuary began when I planted a border around my 14 | The Sanctuary Living
newest flower bed with monkey grass (Liriope). I have always planted this around my beds to keep soil and mulch from running out of my gardens during heavy rain, so I planted it and did not think anything of it. The following day I went to water my newly planted babies, and I was shocked to see my orderly monkey grass incomplete disarray! Some plants remained in the ground but were eaten down to the soil line. Others were scattered all over the lawn, pulled from the ground: new dirt, roots, and all. Maybe five plants had survived from the whole flat I had planted. My neighbor Miss Marcia must have heard my gasps over the rumble of her lawn mower that morning because she calmly came over and told me that I had had a visit from the deer last night. What monkey grass they didn’t eat, was simply tasted and dropped on the ground. My love/hate relationship with The Sanctuary wildlife began, according to Stephen, when he special ordered the “wildlife package” for me! July - August 2022
