Wednesday 7 May 2014

making decisions … it’s not that simple …

 

When it comes to making decisions about something ... anything, I am the great procrastinator... be it clothes, books, plants or what to watch on television.

But sometimes ... completely contrary to my previous statement ... I make a 'snap' decision ... just like that. No soul searching ... no big debate ... I see something ... I want it ...I don't hesitate ... I do it or buy it and worry about it later and then possibly regret it. Maybe 'snap' decisions just go against my nature.

summer container garden

bright and clashing 2013

The time of year has come when I have to make decisions ... about my summer container garden ... I try to keep all the pots together in one place ... not being keen on seeing them dotted about ... they make more impact I feel ... less is more. I allow myself the luxury of strong colours on the terrace but keep the rest of the garden more subtle and soft.   I have just finished emptying the spring pots which were looking decidedly tatty – the bulbs have been laid in trays to dry out and they will be re-planted in the ground come autumn.

summer container garden

simple but boring

The decision of what to fill them with for the summer  each year has become a nightmare. As more and more flowers and plants pour into the garden centres, so my ability to make a decision gets harder and harder.  And I feel that I am just not being adventurous enough with colour combinations -   trying something different.

I ruminate ... ponder ... reflect ... cogitate ... chew over ... you name it, I do it ... before I make any sort of decision. Procrastination is my middle name. The container garden is the one that we see most of - it is on the terrace and in full view of the windows.  It is where we sit ... and eat ... and read books and the Sunday papers ... and drink tea. If I don't get it right it will bug me all summer.

summer container garden

complementary window box – sunglasses needed

There are ten containers which I plant identically - five for around the pond and five alongside the greenhouse ... and a window box in complementary colours. Some years it works ... some it doesn't. I don't mind bright colours that clash  ... they certainly attract your attention ...what I can't stand is ... insipid.

summer container garden

silver and white 2011 – insipid

In 2012 I got it completely wrong - I chose silver, white and lemon flowers ... it looked awful ... uninspiring. Normally I go for the pink/blue spectrum but fancied a change. Wrong. The next year the pots alongside the greenhouse were filled with white, blue and yellow - which looked a little better. Then one year I tried a simpler container holding just pale pink geraniums - boring and insipid.

 

summer container garden

yellow, white and blue – a better combination

This year I have settled on fuschia pink, light pink, dark blue and white ... they look best when they are filled with as many plants as will fit. I don't like to see mean plantings.   But the colour scheme is still a safe option – I should really be going for the ‘he who dares, wins’ approach.

Will it work ... we shall see ... I am the only one who is even bothered what they look like … I need them to look glorious for the twelve weeks or so of summer.

SDC10772

newly planted 2014 – will I approve once it fills out – only time will tell

Regular readers may have noticed that I keep changing the layout and colour scheme of my blog. Again, this is where I find it hard to make decisions. The 'experts' say that you should keep the identity of your blog the same so that people will recognise it, a sort of branding if you like. The trouble is I can't quite decide on what I like - which font to use, coloured background or plain white - a picture heading or just the name. I have changed it loads of times and will probably continue to do so - I doubt I will ever be happy with what I have chosen - just as I am not happy with the name of my blog - I feel I really didn't give it enough thought before I pressed the 'Create a Blog' button.

So you see, my inability to make decisions and stick to them affects all areas of my life - I sound pretty pathetic don't I - oh well, I am what I am I suppose, and I am getting a bit too long in the tooth to try and change now – maybe it is lack of confidence and not trusting my own judgement -  I'll just have to learn to live with and accept my shortcomings.

‘Til next time – I hope your decision making is more positive than mine!

43 comments:

  1. I can't wait to see your fuschia throughout the year Elaine. And no you don't sound pathetic at all! Don't be so hard on yourself. We all have trouble making decisions. It's human nature sometimes. But sometimes snap decisions end up being the best ones :)

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    1. Being impulsive has sometimes got me into trouble - I think that is why I am a little more cautious now.

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  2. This post has perfect timing, for I am off the the garden center to have a hoe and pruners sharpened. While that is happening ins, I will wonder around pondering, unable to make decisions. I am a pink person, but I also want grasses and big leaves to fill my pots. Now with the new pergola I will have shade and will be able have more shade needy plants. We can't go wrong with pink, can we?

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    1. I have seen some fabulous container plantings on Pinterest I think it was seeing them that made me feel a little dissatisfied. And no we can't go wrong with pink.

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  3. Hi Elaine,

    You and I seem to be opposite in most ways :)

    I tend to rush out and buy without thinking. Stems from my dear Father. He was a cottage gardener and everything went in together :)
    I love him dearly for that.......

    I have to say I am sure whatever you do will look beautiful through my eyes. I also have to tell you I love the white silver and yellow scheme.....see what I mean, we appear to be opposites :)

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    1. Well, you know what they say about opposites ...

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  4. Elaine I always think everything looks gorgeous in your garden and couldnt possibly imagine you having such dilemmas over colour schemes. I confess I havent bought anything for my pots or containers yet, because we are away from friday for a week and I wouldnt have been able to water them I havent got anything yet. I sometimes grow my own but for the last couple of years with my mum being so poorly I havent really had the time so have cheated and bought them. I will make a snap decision when we get to the garden centre when we get back no doubt. I think your colour scheme will look beautiful though.Do you remember the 70's Parks planting schemes of red geraniums, blue lobelia and white alyssum? I still think that combination looks great but then maybe I'm showing my age!

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    1. Thanks Anne.We are going away in three weeks and I want to get everything out of the greenhouse and into the ground before we go - weather permitting. Yes I remember the park planting schemes, my Grandad planted his garden the same way.

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  5. Oh, I loved the daisy, yellow white and blue....gorgeous that! And apart from the white and silver I rather loved them all!!!
    I was laughing at you dithering, my problem is the complete opposite...like a fool I dash in where angels fear to tread, I don't like boring either but go to silly extremes which is worse! Still, it wouldn't do if we were all the same would it, what a dull old world it would be...
    btw....you actually have me in a dither re what to put in my baskets now....I've never worried before! lol xxx

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    1. I don't know why I make such a fuss about it really - I'm just a silly old fool at times.

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  6. I'm like that although do impulse buy plants. The trouble is you often can't plan which plants to buy as if you set your heart on something you can't then find it. I like the yellow, blue and white too but maybe with a bit more blue incorporated.

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    1. I do impulse buy as well sometimes a plant is just begging to be picked up and paid for.

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  7. Your post made me smile as I change my mind with the wind direction! My planting this year is going to be more colourful too as I want big bursts of colour this summer. I am also looking to change my blog look slightly but like you, can't decide yet. Isn't it funny how some people enjoy change and others don't. I hope you make your decisions work for you, as long as you are happy - that's all that matters xx

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    1. I soon get fed up with what my blog looks like and always seem to be tweaking.

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  8. I must admit I did a double take when I saw all the white, its just not what I expected, but I find it really easy to read and photos show up really well too. I emptied the tulips out of my three pots today, and suddenly realised that I can now plant them up with something to brighten the area in the summer. So I have decisions to make too. I hate the sense that, once you have chosen, you have done yourself out of all those other wonderful options.

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    1. Absolutely, I couldn't agree more there are some wonderful plants out there - more and more choice every year it seems to me.

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  9. Sounds like me - I hate decisions. Your plant choice for this year looks great. I had hanging baskets for the first time this summer and was pleased with them. Must find time to get some potting mix and new plants for autumn/winter.

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  10. I am so boring - my blog remains the same, and my planters receive the cheapest best value plants I can find regardless of whether the colours go or not.

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    1. Believe me - you save yourself a lot of trouble Rosemary.

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  11. I think we're always pretty much the same when it comes to making decisions, big or little. Myself, I'm impulsive and often just go with whatever presents itself at the time and looks good. The thing is it all works out regardless.
    As far as blogs go, I think most of us change them around a lot. I changed the name of my blog three times until I got to Rubye Jack. And I used to always change the pictures but have gotten to where it's been the same for the last year. It's ours to have fun with.

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    1. Trouble is I always find something better after I have made the decision - hey ho.

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  12. I know I'm going to be in trouble when Lady Magnon returns from her travels. I remembered that she likes PINK container flowers, but couldn't remember which ones. Anyway they're all planted up, and I await my punishment.

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    1. Depends on what mood she's in when she returns - with a bit of luck she won't notice.

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  13. Hi Elaine! Thanks for commenting! It seems that I missed your last post. Sorry! Thinks have been a bit busy lately... :) Its always a treat coming to visit your blog. Your garden is so gorgeous and bursting with beautiful colors! I`m terrible at making decisions too! Something as simple as having to order a take-away will take me ages because I can`t make my mind and then I change it and then ask for suggestions...yes! Its that bad! haha
    Hugs, Debbie

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    1. I know what you mean - I drive myself mad sometimes - and say for heavens sake - just get on with it.

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  14. I'm an impulsive person, always making snap decisions. Very impatient too - much to my Hubster'a annoyance. However when an important decision has to be made I do rely on others to help me out.
    Patricia x

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    1. I'm sure Freud would have a field day with me - bad experiences of being impulsive do make me hesitate more now.

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  15. A delightful post and wonderful photos. I think that for most of us making decisions, about anything, is rarely ever that simple.
    I often think about changing my blog layout but never have. As for the name of yours I like it. Flighty xx

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    1. The thing is I'm not sure what I would want to change it to - so for now it stays the same.

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  16. Lovely photos and great choices. I giggled at the 'sunglasses needed' caption. I am thinking of changing my layout!

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    1. Just been over to yours and like the new layout - very clean and simple.

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  17. HA!HA! Elaine I feel your pain, I'm a Libran....typically indecisive.

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    1. Glad someone else knows what I go through.

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  18. I love the colours you have chosen this year for your pots. As they say A change is better than a rest! Sarah x

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    1. Thanks Sarah - they should look ok in the end - I hope.

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  20. Sometimes decisions kind of evolve... I often don't know if i'm laid back or indecisive (or both). Any way, your plant combos look lovely.

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    1. I think it is all the choice that is out there that makes it difficult to decide.

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  21. It sounds to me that you put a lot of thought and consideration into whatever choices you make...and as different opportunities present themselves, more options come up. It is difficult to know what the best choices will be, and until you try them or see them being tried by someone else, it's a wait and see :)

    I remember reading about thrillers, fillers and spillers for garden containers. Now each time I see a container in a garden store, I check to see which plants they've chosen for the centre... the tall thrillers...which plants they used for fillers and which ones spill over the sides.

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    1. I will have to remember that - thrillers, spillers and fillers next time I plant - not sure I have any thrillers this time though.

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  22. I am a procrastinator when it comes to anything stressful. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow instead- is my way of dealing with difficult tasks.
    It is early days here and so I have only just begun to think about containers. I have a number of window boxes and quite a few hanging baskets. My color scheme for this year? No idea! I will probably make a quick decision like you have done. Love the white cosmos by the greenhouse from a few years back. They look so fresh!

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  23. Good luck with your choices this year hope you don't find it as difficult as I have.

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