The definition of the word 'Fetish': "object of obsession: an object, idea, or activity that somebody is irrationally obsessed with or attached to".
While watching TV the other day I heard (for the umpteenth time) a woman use the phrase "shoe fetish" to describe her passion for shoes and shoe shopping. I'm probably a poor excuse for a female, because I can't say shoes have ever held much of an interests for me at all. Quite frankly, I would rather go barefoot in the warmer months, lol. I do however, have a few garden and/or plant related fetishes!
Do you have strange obsession with a garden chore or project? Such as mowing your lawn, edging, weeding (boy, I wish I had an obsession with those last two, the gardens would look a LOT tidier if I did!), pruning that certain shrub just so, keeping your patio clean, rearranging plants in your garden, evenness and symmetry, etc? What bugs you in your garden if it is out of place or left undone?
It bugs me to no end when there is too much of any one color in the garden. Such as having too much yellow blooming in the same section of the garden at one time. I always have to shuffle things around to keep colors somewhat evenly spaced throughout the gardens or else I go batty!
Or do you have a strange fetish with a particular plant/plant group? I suppose a plant obsession can be rational, like if the plant does exceedingly well in your garden or region, you have enough room to accommodate it and have a real use and/or need for it in your garden. So (to my way of thinking at least) an irrational plant obsessions would be one where you keep acquiring more of a certain plant even though it has only performed so-so or hasn't necessarily excelled in your garden/region, isn't very useful, or you have ZERO room for in your garden but you feel you HAVE to get it anyway.
An obsession with a plant can also manifest itself in the form of a collection. You buy every different variety of a specific plant, hunting down each obscure species, doggedly scouring online sources yearly for any new introductions of that plant, all to add to your collection. You buy every different variety even though there doesn't seem to be a great deal of difference between them as far as looks go. For some reason you feel it is your 'duty' to buy them all for the sake of comparison. LOL! Any of this sounding familiar to you? ;-)
Is there a plant that could easily become an obsession for you if it isn't already?
I go through my spurts of interest and obsessions with certain plants/groups. Right now I have an heirloom eggplant fetish. I can't explain it! There is something so tantalizing and Jezebel-like in those gorgeous fruits. The funny thing is though, I can't say they are a favorite of mine as far as taste goes. I like them in certain dishes (dishes involving tomato sauce and tons of cheese naturally!), but in their plain state I find them unremarkable. Please don't ask me how many different eggplant varieties I have in my little seed box now, it is shocking! Lol.
I've experienced another flare up of my Geum-itis last year, which I fear will carry over into this growing season! I don't have the space for more Geum, many of them look similar to each other, they can occasionally be picky... there isn't a good reason for my adoration of them. Some people can't resist cooing over a cute chubby-cheeked baby, I unfotunaly tend to do it over Geum...which can be embarrassing in a crowded nursery setting ;-D
Ferns are an ongoing problem. I see one that is pretty or unusual and I always end up wanting it. Did I mention I have absolutely NO room left for ferns? Corydalis too. I've had only so-so luck with them in my region, more than half have proved to be duds, yet I keep wanting to try others...
Eupatorium (or whatever the "experts" want to classify them as now) could easily become an issue for me. If I had the space there might not be an end to the various varieties I would try out!
I've got other plant collections, such as perennial geraniums, campanula, polygonatum (not a big collection, but it would be a lot bigger if I could find local sources for unusual sorts or mail order places that weren't outrageous in shipping costs!), but many of them are good performers for me or useful in some way so not what I would call an "irrational" obsession, lol!
What do you have a fetish or obsession with in YOUR garden? As you have surmised, I am in the mood for a long chat!! ;-D
CMK
Annie
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
Related Professionals
Tempe Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Ballenger Creek Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Ilchester Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Montgomeryville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Paradise Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Brandon Landscape Contractors · Post Falls Landscape Contractors · Stallings Landscape Contractors · Lauderdale Lakes Landscape Contractors · Dallas Roofing & Gutters · La Jolla Roofing & Gutters · Summit Roofing & Gutters · Charlotte Siding & Exteriors · Kannapolis Siding & Exteriors · North Adams Siding & Exteriorschristinmk z5b eastern WAOriginal Author
lavender_lass
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
gardenweed_z6a
teakettle2
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
happyintexas
Chris_in_the_Valley
christinmk z5b eastern WAOriginal Author
Campanula UK Z8
Chris_in_the_Valley
christinmk z5b eastern WAOriginal Author
mandolls
natalie4b
pat_tea
gottagarden
teakettle2
lavender_lass
ianna
ogrose_tx
lavender_lass
lavender_lass
christinmk z5b eastern WAOriginal Author
Chris_in_the_Valley
ianna
lavender_lass
christinmk z5b eastern WAOriginal Author
ogrose_tx
schoolhouse_gw
ianna
Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
mosswitch
fixerupperinnh
ogrose_tx
lavender_lass
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
MollyDog