It seems that neighbor #1 (in a sweet little silver Mercedes Kompressor) was heading out of the neighborhood in front of my house when neighbor #2 approached the intersection (in a much larger SUV) not seeing neighbor #1, who was broadsided, spun around, jumping the curb, crashing the fence and ending up in the garden. This all happened mere minutes before I got home, in fact, I beat the police to the scene.
Once I knew no one was injured, my thoughts turned to the garden, which happened to be looking right nice when I last left it. I was anxious to see what was flattened under the car, and it seemed to take forever for the tow truck to arrive. Being a dutiful garden blogger, ever on the lookout for post material, I started snapping pics as the time passed.
Don't you like how the side light from the car offers a nice color echo to the blooming Lantana 'Miss Huff'?
We are just entering peak daylily season here in Tidewater. I lost 5 or 6 to the accident.
I had a landscape design teacher once tell me that silver was the great garden unifier, blending colors throughout the garden. Don't you like how the bright foliage of Abelia x 'Sunrise' is reflected by the pride of German engineering.
Several years ago former local blogger Jeff Joyner stopped by the store and gave me a great wealth of plants. All of them are from families not normally hardy here, but Jeff is a zone pusher. Unfortunately his pushing talents are better than mine, and this Sinningia 'Butter and Cream' is the only thing to make it, and was nearly taken out Sunday night.
With the car gone I was able to make an assessment.
This is what I discovered:
- no one was hurt
- no one walking their dog or pushing a stroller on our sidewalk when it happened
- my son was no out front on his bike
- being late getting home prevented my car, or my person from being involved
- I have good neighbors, and the young lady involved offered to come help me fix the garden, which she said is her favorite in the neighborhood
- I now have more sun and opportunities to plant new things
Considering what could have been, all and all it turned out to be a good day.
You know, thank goodness your garden tour had been last month! I see what looks like a conifer or two and a small leafed um, Cotoneaster? I should go look at my photos of your garden and know what got wiped out. Is this the area that the city is going to be re-doing the sidewalk or is that along the side?
ReplyDeleteYour optimism is commendable! Glad no one was hurt. Your sense of humor obviously was not damaged at all.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a sense of humor about it. The reflection of the abelia does look very classy. The car looks a bit like some avant garde garden art. I'm glad nobody is hurt and I'm glad your neighbor offered to help replant. Many of the perennials will bounce back, won't they?
ReplyDeleteI love that blue hydrangea with the blooming yuccas. My yuccas are fixing to bloom which makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteAre those narrow conifers on the house corner Chamaecyparis or an arborvitae?
Wow...that must have been a bit of a shock! You do it in style though, classy car and all :)
ReplyDeleteTotal bummer. Hate it when this happens.
ReplyDeleteOh sure. I blog last week about how a cat fight in my garden destroyed 3 plants and you go and show me up by having a car murder a bunch of your plants.
ReplyDeleteGlad no one was hurt! At least you kept your sense of humor about it and thought to take pictures! The car actually looks kind of nice in the garden. Maybe you need a big metallic silver sculpture when you redesign.
I'm glad no one was hurt. Have to admire the positive thinking.
ReplyDeleteThat's the most positive reaction to a demolished garden that I've ever heard. So glad no one was hurt and I look forward to seeing your new sunny garden!
ReplyDeleteWait just a minute there Mr Positve Pants...I see spray paint, and just exactly who is going to pay for these new plants!?
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, glad nobody was badly injured, it could have ended much worse.
Considering the possible damage - you did come out of this lightly.
ReplyDeleteOn another subject - are you using pine needles as mulch? (Or is that a pine tree there?) I was considering it but was told it was to acidic.
Les,
ReplyDeleteGood thing nobody was hurt. The garden barely got damaged and I'm sure all those plants will be fine by next year. The auto repair people made out the best Mercedes repairs around here cost $125 an hour!!
Hate your word verification...
Even with a Mercedes in your garden, it still looks beautiful. I'm glad no one was hurt and that your garden did not suffer devastating damage!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I'm glad no one was hurt. We came home to something like that once. It was scary. They didn't end up in my garden though. I'm glad your daylilies will be hardy enough to come back with enthusiasm, but I'm also sad. You do have lovely nice neighbors. That Mercedes is going to be expensive to fix. Hugs from Oklahoma.~~Dee
ReplyDeleteI like your attitude! While reading your post I had the same "opportunity to plant new things" in mind! So much easier to rip and re-do when we aren't the ones doing the ripping...Glad all is well.
ReplyDeleteYour sense of humor about the intruder ("silver is the great garden unifier") helped get you through this, it seems. I must say, this is a first in garden photography!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the great midnight bowling ball incident here in our front yard back in 2003. http://www.remarc.com/craig/?p=316
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw your title this morning, I thought you must have been joking about a friend named Mercedes visiting...but, no, you were being literal!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that no one was badly hurt and that your garden (and house) didn't suffer irreparable damage.
Les,
ReplyDeleteI once had a blue-haired elderly lady drive her car into the brick wall at my office smashing the flower boxes at my front door. I wish I had handled it as well as you did. Gardening is not a safe sport.
Ugh. Such destruction but what a cute car. Yes, the silver did accent many of the plants. Perhaps that hood ornament could be considered 'garden art'. Sorry for your mess and yes, good thing all are uninjured.
ReplyDeleteEither she should replace the plants, or leave the Mercedes as garden sculpture. Hey, you can take off the roof and the hood and use it as a planter.
ReplyDeleteTornadoes one week, bad trees by power lines, and lawn ornaments the next. It's so uplifting to visit the Tidewater.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can use the grill as a garden ornament some day. lol. Great story. I had a 4x4 do a curb jump on my corner a year or so ago, but it was just a hit and run. The garden area was under construction so it didn't harm too much.
ReplyDeleteI assumed the Mercedes in the garden would be a luxury plant you love, but if you are going to have a car in your garden then a silver Mercedes is a great one! Jeannine
ReplyDeleteGood thing that no one was injured and that the car didn't hit your house (though -- mordant thought -- homeowner's insurance would probably cover house damage but won't likely help you with plant replacement). As others said, your humorous comments and willingness to look for the silver (ha) lining in the cloud are commendable, and we should all emulate in the face of adversity!
ReplyDeleteIs that a Chocolate Silk mimosa (I think that's the name of the cultivar) in your garden? Are they sold at your garden center? I need to get one for my husband so he stops planting those damn volunteer mimosa seedlings.
Now that is not something you see everyday, luckily. The car really was damaged yet some of your plants may grow right back, who knows. Love your take on the accident, you really are in a fine mood about it.
ReplyDeleteI just love your optimistic mind. Thanks a lot. Good thing no one was hurt.
ReplyDeleteHappy Gardening!
A very expensive piece of garden art. Glad to hear no one was hurt. At least the car went straight in and didn't broadside your garden too. Sorry it happened at all though. Garden management is enough work without meandering cars.
ReplyDeleteWhich hydrangea is that in the background?
Wow! The anticipation I felt as I scrolled down to see the pictures -- oh my. I was horrified (for you) but also amused by your take on this unfortunate accident. I enjoy your blog; have never commented until now. This post cried out for support. It could have been worse, but still..... bummer. Good luck restoring order. sarah (gardener in Arlington, VA)
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. Plants are so resilient that it might look worse than it is. We had sowmthing like this happen. Luckliy a 'Sparkleberry' deciduous holly kept the car from shooting down the terraces. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteGlad folks are safe.
ReplyDeleteHappy replanting.
Wow! Timing is very important in life . . . so glad no one was hurt. I too think your daylillies will survive and you now have a garden helper! How awful for you though . . . It would have upset me a bit seeing my plants driven over that way . . . at least it was not the heavier SUV. Your garden looks quite fabulous Les! Great photographs!
ReplyDeleteI have found a dead opposum in my garden. I have found a dead tree blown over in a storm in my garden. I have even found a raccoon family in my garden. But I've never found a car sitting in my garden!
ReplyDeleteThis beats all! You do, however, have a good attitude about it.
Hope it all grows back OK.
David/:0)
Oy vey!
ReplyDeleteI grieve for the lilies, but at least you got a blog post out of it! :)
I so sorry about your beautiful garden. I'm glad no one was hurt.
ReplyDeleteLove your sense of humour Les. When life gave you lemons you made the most delicious batch of lemonade !
ReplyDelete