Common sense prevails.

I went to Teena Garay's plant sale. There were such very lovely treasures there, each and every one begging me to take them home. "Please, Rosemary, please, you can make room for me." There is nothing more seductive than a whispered plea from a plant. But I told them all, "No, there are 12 unplanted poppies at home, six of each 'Patti's Plum' and 'Perry's White' and they have been waiting ever so long for me to find just the right site. I owe them my time and space."

I had toyed with the idea of adding more garden beds. There certainly is enough room. More beds would mean less grass, always a plus.

But then there is the terrier, Paris. She certainly does need a bit of room to madly dash about in. There are a few young friends who recently have become mothers, and kids need space in a garden design, too. I really like to hit a golf ball around. All of these factors added up to: no more garden beds.

There is enough gardening going on around here to keep me from seeing past the end of my nose since mid-April. I have just realized that my only topic of conversation is this garden. And, really, just how many people are interested in my garden? It's like endlessly talking about your children or your dog or your religion. Enough is enough.

Then a friend came over today. She said that people that say they don't have time to garden should take a look at mine and see how easy it all is. How everything is so filled in and lush and really doesn't need my time any more. How it all happened so fast.

I thought I would cry.

This garden is tended to a fare-thee-well, as is every garden I know that is more than a pot of pansies. It's why I have a garden. I like to weed, to prune, to propagate. I like to make compost, train clematis, thin seedlings. I like to fume, fret, fuss at Weather. I like the action, engagement, involvement.

No, my garden is most certainly not taking care of itself. And I have yet to see one that does. Give this garden two years without me and it will be alders and elders, just as I found it.

Another friend has a garden off Skyline Drive. The elevation is a challenge so she has been learning to choose her plants carefully. But she also has a moose issue. They will eat everything that she plants. Her dream is to look out at deciduous trees and a tended garden.

Fat chance.

The suggestion has been presented that she determine just how much time and effort she is willing to devote to a garden. And money, because a fence is in order.

If you have the good fortune to live on acreage, fine, but you don't need to develop all of it. Just pick what you can handle and fence. There needs to be enough room for a vegetable plot, lilacs and roses. This combination can keep many people satisfied forever.

This friend has a full-time job and a young son. She loves to garden for all of her own reasons. Once she determines where the garden will go, from which windows she wants to see trees, where the vegetable plot will go and where the flower bed will be, she can proceed with a fence.

From my observation, moose will not challenge a fence if they can see the end of it, see a way around it. This supports the idea of fencing a modest area. You will not be hassling the moose, nor will you bite off more than you can chew.

Our fence is wire in front and we have enjoyed the antics of a cow moose with twins for 10 days. They have been a joy to watch, on the other side of the fence. The east side of our fence is solid wood and I must say that I do not recommend it. The original idea was to create a microclimate to grow fruit trees. But that entire area is too wet for fruit trees. Plus the west wind blows right into it and creates a mini weather system. It is really a rather odd state of affairs. But a wire fence lets air circulate as it is meant to and all will be well. Keep that in mind, choose your material wisely.

Unless gardening is a passion for you, keep it small. Think about what it is you want out of the experience. Do you want to see it the minute you drive up to the house? Or do you want to walk through the house with a cup of tea and settle into a swing on your porch while you unwind from your day?

What about paths? Plan on at least four feet across, that way two people can walk side by side, or pass each other. This makes for easy access with a wheelbarrow. Think about what material you want the path to be.

My son and daughter-in-law bought a dandy house with a small flower garden by the entry. This little garden just isn't working. I have been thinking about it and have decided that, when they have the time and inclination, they should flatten it out and plant several rugosa roses. Hansa to be precise. They will fill in the area quickly and beautifully. Add a James McFarland lilac to the mix and they will have a very livable planting for years to come.

And it won't need a fence.

Rosemary Fitzpatrick has been gardening with gusto in Homer for 27 years.