I was chatting with a landscape architect friend – you know, the ones who do lots of hardscape and make beaucoup bucks? He was complaining about his (rich) clients. Apparently they want perfection at all times. Echinaceas past their peak just won’t do. And roses can’t be the terrific new shrub roses; they have to be hybrid teas so they’ll produce good cut flowers. And they don’t notice much in the garden — except the imperfections. He said the garden is like a stage setting to them. Almost makes me feel sorry for rich people. Which makes me wildly appreciative of my coachees — that’s the word I prefer to "client." They’re aspiring do-it-yourselfers either because A, they can’t afford to have everything done for them, or B, they think they just might enjoy it– working with nature, having a creative outlet, getting exercise, etc. So they’re motivated and willing to work and they’ll get there – there being a garden that’s a big improvement over what they started with and that they’ll have created themselves, with the dirty fingernails to prove it. I’m grateful for the opportunity to guide them down that wonderful path.
This photo has nothing to do with the text but hey, the elephant ears are looking gorgeous and they won’t last much longer, so let’s enjoy ‘em.
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From my original site, Sandy said that gardening coach is what she is, too. She coaches a bunch of women “who are all going to have fantastic gardens because they want to be gardeners. Their enthusiasm fuels my passion more. Most of the time I get rewarded with sushi lunches! Life is good.!”
Susanita says, “As one who’s been coached by Takoma Gardener, I heartily recommend this new kind of gardening consultation. Before learning of “coaching,” I actually got an estimate from a landscape designer. His ballpark estimate for what I wanted to do was in the neighborhood of $10K. Now gardening is my new hobby.”
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