New Gardens for Cold Climate Gardening

– Posted in: Acquisitions, Book reviews, Hardscaping and Projects
21 comments

We. Are. MOVING!!! After 21 years, 9 months, 11 days* in the same location, Purdyville is relocating twenty minutes further out to the middle of nowhere. We are just about doubling our floor space, with 167% more bedrooms and 250% more bathrooms. Total acreage will be less than we currently have, but, trust me, there is still plenty of space to garden in!

Seeing Trees Giveaway

While I’ve got your attention, I’d like to mention that Timber Press is giving away a copy of Seeing Trees, one of their newly released titles, plus an original print from the book. All you have to do to enter is submit your email address at the link in the previous sentence. I had a chance to look through this book at the Seattle Fling, and it is drop-dead gorgeous. If you love trees, or if you love good photography, you will love this book. The giveaway ends on September 9th, so hurry on over there. And while you’re there, check out the Timber Press blog.

*As of this writing. We haven’t moved yet, so the total time will be a bit more.

About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

~Albert Camus in Albert Camus quotations

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James Mann October 31, 2011, 10:26 am

It’s great moving to a new location.

My wife and I moved to the home we own today after renting and never having a place to grow a garden.

We looked at a few places and the one we chose in the end had an extra lot, which of course meant we could have a huge garden right in the middle of Moncton. So cool.

We bought a 4 bedroom home which meant I could have my own private office without so many interruptions.

It would have been nice to have a home with an extra bathroom but we went for the extra lot instead.

Hope everything goes smooth for your move. Best of luck

Lynn October 16, 2011, 11:45 pm

Hi Kathy and congratulations on the big move! I look forward to seeing the process and what you’ll take with you in plants. I was so sad to leave our gardens and move to a rental where I can’t do much. We did not have room for me to dig and bring some perennials, just a few houseplants, but I what I dug and brought with are some of your colchicums. They didn’t get planted before blooming, either, so your post today (11/15) was perfect. I will get them in the ground and think of the sweet gardening life in the country and what I can do here in the city to make it feel greener. Best to all the family.

Lynn October 16, 2011, 11:45 pm

i meant Oct 16th’s post.

Carol Cichorski September 26, 2011, 7:49 pm

When we moved we took some plants but left a lot of them. We thought we were doing the new owners huge favor, and frankly, they didn’t care at all – just wanted a place for the kids to play. Don’t assume like we did. Ask!

commonweeder September 22, 2011, 9:21 am

Moving is always difficult, but leaving a garden is even more so. I am sure you are moving parts of the garden, but you’ll have new opportunities with them. I am sure you will find enjoyment in that. Seeing Trees is a fabulous book!

Jenn September 10, 2011, 9:43 pm

How terrifically exciting! Will you be able to take bits and pieces of this garden with you?

Julia Hofley September 10, 2011, 5:43 am

Hi Kathy,

All the best to you and yours at your new house and garden. Sometimes we wonder about starting all over again with our gardens, what we might do differently than the first time. You have that opportunity to leave the plants behind that didn’t earn their real estate, and use your acreage as a palette for the garden of your future. Although moving is never easy, having a new place and terra firma gives one an outlet for creativity and putting down new roots. xo Julia & Eric from Michigan

Deborah September 9, 2011, 8:29 am

I’m so glad to hear the new house is finally happening for you. The waiting after you first find the house goes on forever, doesn’t it? Having moved from a big garden myself, I know how it feels. Leaving a place you love for a new exciting beginning, and with a beautiful house to look forward to. What bittersweet excitement! One note of experience: take the garden plants you love with you, as much as you can manage anyway. I left a LOT of plants for the new owners of my old house, in the mistaken idea that they would appreciate and love them, and I was wrong, wrong, wrong.

Yael September 8, 2011, 1:13 am

More bedrooms and more bathroom – a good thing. New gardens – an opportunity to grow new things. Enjoy your new adventure.

Yael

Cynthia September 7, 2011, 8:24 am

More bedrooms – Nice!
More bathrooms – Wonderful!
New Gardens – Adventure!
I’ve seen the house – one of your sons posted it! Wow! I am so happy for you guys. Lots of memories in your present location – BUT – there will be new memories and love to share in the new place. It is not the place, it is the people that make all the difference! And just for the record – I love you guys!

Mr. McGregor's Daughter September 6, 2011, 10:56 pm

I’d say the tradeoff of land for bathrooms will be well worth it. Starting a new garden is such a wonderful opportunity to apply all you learned in the first garden (read: mistakes) to a new, blank slate. It’s all so exciting.

Lona September 6, 2011, 5:21 pm

How exciting to be moving to an new home. I bet you are planing the garden moves and new additions already. LOL!

Erin @ The Impatient Gardener September 6, 2011, 11:01 am

How many of your plants will you be taking with you?

Sounds like a wonderful challenge! Congrats.

Mary Schier September 6, 2011, 10:34 am

Congratulation on the new place! Despite the work, having a new garden to design and plant would be exciting.

Leslie September 6, 2011, 10:06 am

It looks just wonderful and I wish you every happiness in your new home…how exciting!

Pam/Digging September 6, 2011, 9:54 am

Congrats on the new place, Kathy!

Helen at Toronto Gardens September 6, 2011, 9:50 am

Wishing you an easy move, Kathy, and a quick “settle in.”

Annie in Austin September 6, 2011, 12:10 am

For a woman with a lovely, large family, trading acreage for bathrooms sounds like wisdom, Kathy! Are you already digging & potting up some of your special plants for the 20-minute journey? It probably won’t be easy, but a lot of it should be fun!

We’ve never been in one place for 21 years – the longest was 12 years at house #3.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Alex September 5, 2011, 10:46 pm

I am so amazed that you’re moving. That takes some major wherewithall. Fantastic! Go for it! Looking forward to hearing more about the changes coming up.

JWLW September 5, 2011, 7:54 pm

Kathy: Have to give you credit, it’s not easy for someone who is dedicated to their gardens to make a move like that. However now you will have a new set of goals, priorities and challenges to work with and overcome.

Have a wqonderful evening,
John

Flâneur Gardener September 5, 2011, 4:43 pm

Moving from your garden… I can’t imagine that, having never had a house of my own but having always lived in apartments since I moved away from my parents. Mind you, my parents will now be moving from my childhood garden and I find myself strangely thrilled to see how my childhood home and garden will arise anew in a new location when my parents settle in to their new home.

I’m sure your new garden will be just the same as your old garden. Only different, of course… The difference, though, will be minor compared to the fact that this will be your garden.