In reply to the interviewer's question about the garden being a lot of work for someone her age, she replies that she has planned it so that as the shrubs become larger, they will shade out the perennials which will die. She says "I am just going to let this happen. Gradually, over the next ten years or so, the garden will just be green. The evergreens and shrubs can hold the garden together without the flowers. I am going to be 74 years old, and I have a man helping me only one day a week. I've seen older people despair over their gardens or move because they can't cope. I want to stay here, and I think this garden is a good example to people."

This is what luseal was teaching us about. I hope posters check out her excellent letter in the FAQ section of this forum or read her post below.

Now that I finally have my own garden, five years later, I have put in very little yet. I haven't been here a year yet, and I want to see what it will do on its own before I plan. But I am already daydreaming about hardscape and winter foundation plantings, trees and shrubs that will let me plant annuals and perennials now while I still can, and yet will eventually fill in to make a garden I can love indefinitely.