Have you ever noticed that you’ve stopped noticing? It seems part of our humanity that the more familiar we are with something, the less conscious of it we become. For example, there’s a good chance your morning routine is so repetitive that you accomplish many of your morning tasks while completely focused on the agenda for the day ahead. This ability to sleep walk through huge portions of our lives often comes at a high price: our appreciation for routine experiences diminishes. We no longer savor the beauty, process, aromas, flavors of our moment-by-moment existence.

This auto-pilot mode is often reflected in our gardens as we begin to relate to them as backgrounds to be maintained rather than spaces for interaction and joy. This mental shift is unfortunate because, like any living thing, gardens require regular attention and care in order to thrive.

Inspiration is a key to achieving a greater experiential return on our garden investments. Our gardens should contain elements that work against the human tendency of over-familiarity and force us out of auto-pilot: a curved walkway that slows us down; a hidden alcove that captures our curiosity; a well-crafted stepping stone path that alters our stride; or an artistically-pruned, vibrantly-colored Japanese Maple that takes our breath away.

Inspiration should be a priority when considering a garden investment; ignoring this quality will result in a garden that quickly becomes familiar and humdrum. As you consider investing in your landscape, prioritize inspiration–so that each encounter with your garden adds discovery, joy, and interest to your life!

–Contributed by Peter Dymond
HL Garden Care Foreman

“I loved autumn, the season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.”

~ Lee Maynard (American novelist; 1936-2017)

This country garden basks in the beauty of autumn while also displaying loveliness in all the seasons of the year, through careful design, plant selection, and regular “creative care”. How may we bring all-season joy to your garden? 

Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& fall fanatic)

The sunny, pleasant days of early autumn are perfect for getting outside to prepare your garden for the cold weather to come. The following garden care tasks can be done now:

~Clean up dead perennials. However, only cut down perennials if they are brown. If they are green, they are still storing energy in the roots for next year’s growth. (Remember: If it’s brown, cut it down. If it’s green, let it be.)

~Plant any perennials and grasses you have divided, shrubs you are relocating, or bulbs you want to add for spring color.

~Do final shaping of shrubs by hand, since shearing when the weather gets too cold may cause your plants to brown (from ‘winter burn’).

~Contact Hanselman Landscape (or your irrigation system installer) to blow the water out of your irrigation system so that the hoses don’t freeze and burst.

Contributed by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& fall fanatic!)

“All gardening is landscape painting.” 

~ William Kent (English architect, landscape architect, painter; 1685-1748)

This Lancaster County homestead, once a tangled wilderness of scraggly trees, barbed wire fencing, and scattered trash, has been transformed into an oasis of serenity, beauty, and deep joy in all seasons of the year. It is amazing what thought, care, love, and hard work can accomplish! Is there a tangled area of your property you might like to transform into a place of refreshment and peace? Please call us (717-653-1273)! We’ve done it before and would love to do it again–for you! 

Shared by Betty Hanselman

Gardener’s wife (& evening enthusiast)