why my clematis gets no love from the neighbors
Every morning, I step onto my porch and admire the clematis vines my mother taught me to grow. Their purple blooms remind me of summers spent in her garden, hands deep in the soil, learning the old ways. Back then, neighbors would stop by, swap cuttings, and share praise for a well-tended yard. Now, my clematis climbs the fence in full glory, but not a single neighbor has commented.
Maybe it’s because today’s gardens are all about neat lines and low-maintenance shrubs—no room for wild, rambling vines. Or perhaps it’s the HOA’s silent rules about uniformity, where individuality gets pruned away. I sometimes wonder if my love for traditional, lush gardens is out of step with the times. Is it nostalgia, or stubbornness?
Last week, a neighbor planted plastic flowers—no watering, no mess. It made me ache for the days when real dirt under your nails meant something. Are we losing the soul of our gardens for the sake of convenience and curb appeal? Or am I just clinging to the past?
The clematis keeps blooming, even if no one notices. Maybe that’s enough. But I’d love to hear what you think: Are old-fashioned gardens still welcome in our changing neighborhoods?
#gardeningmemories #clematis #communitydebate #Gardening
