That Empty Feeling

One of the saddest sights in my garden is the empty plant pole. I know they’re really called Shepherd Hooks, but since I’ve never had any sheep and don’t see any in my near future, I prefer to call them hanging basket holder poles, aka birdfeeder holder upper poles, aka birdhouse holder poles or just simply poles which I will use here because it makes for a lot less typing.

Living in a condo with limited garden space, going up is the only option when you’re looking through seed catalogues and you just have to have one of these, one of those and oh, 2 of these, maybe some of this and some of that, and most certainly some of these gorgeous “new this year” ones.

So in order to cram as many flowers, and a few birdhouses and birdfeeders, into my space as possible I now have 12 of these poles in and around my gardens. No, that’s not a typo, I said 12. Some with single hooks, some double, tall, short, you name it, I got it.

All summer long these sturdy poles are working hard, sometimes being used as a living fence, lined up between my yard and my neighbors holding blue wave petunias.



Sometimes used as a way to hide the gas meters


And sometimes just to brighten up a dark corner


But now, in the middle of September, these poor poles no longer have a job. Except for the 2 by the back fence holding the birdhouses, the rest are laid off, standing bare and idle, looking forlorn and sad

Until next May, when once again they will be put to good use holding oriole and hummingbird feeders, and the new generation of must have plants, looking gorgeous and making me happy, until the wind blows real hard and I have to run out there and take everything down, and wonder why in the world I have so many of these darn things.