Sometimes it is the smallest of actions that have the biggest of results, take this garden genius move made by my friend Barbara. Barbara lives near me and faces many of the same gardening challenges I do, with one extra one  ….the HILL! All the people in my neighborhood who live on the outer  side of the street have lots that are backed by steep hills leading into wooded areas. Very private, very rustic and yet when you move into an area devoid of vegetation, very difficult to decide what to do with.

People have solved the problem in many different ways. One guy installed a large waterfall and accompanying landscaping down his…..$$ka-ching! Some planted grass ( heaven have mercy .. what a chore) ,some planted evergreens and shrubs ,and some did nothing and have what are referred to here as “hell-hills”.

Barbara has been busy doing the evergreen/shrub thing, and after a few years now has a lovely assortment of “stuff” on the hill.

But, a few years ago, in a moment of pure divine inspiration, she took home six flowers of the ever popular beach plant,   rose campion (lychnis coronaria) that had gone to seed and spread the seeds on the hill.

Rose campion is a biennial ( meaning one year of just vegetative or leaf growth followed by a year of flowering then dying, but not before sending out lots of seed to re-sprout). While the plants were growing she took the liberty of moving those who were in unfortunate locations to better ones and making sure the seed was getting spread all around as evenly as humanly possible, and VIOLIA!

Makes me crazy with garden envy!

Makes me jealous beyond words!

Makes me want….A HILL!!!!!!