Patience Is a Virtue

By Julie Auten, Hall County Master Gardener and Chair of the 2026 Fall Garden Expo

"Patience is a virtue." Without a doubt, we have all heard this said. It pertains to so many areas of our lives, including our careers, parenting, and even gardening. While it is all gardeners' dream to have the perfect garden immediately upon planting, this is simply not realistic. Gardening, especially when growing perennials, is an exercise in patience.

As with all gardens, site preparation and planning are essential. What would you like to plant? Is the plant appropriate for your selected location? Will it get enough sun or shade? Is it hardy for our growing zone? Are you planting at the right time of the year? Now is the time to be thinking about the perennials that you wish to see in your garden for years to come. We are all tempted to rush out at the first sign of spring and fill our gardens with beautiful plants, often selecting perennials along with the blooming annuals displayed on nursery shelves. It’s not long before we are googling to find out why many of those costly plants died and our gardens are not the vision of loveliness that we imagined. 

Simply stated, we planted those perennials at the wrong time of the year. Perennials, trees, and shrubs should be planted in the fall. Once fall planting is complete, the truth of the maxim that "patience is a virtue" really kicks in. Your fall-planted perennials will not wow you immediately.

Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) in July of its first season, still only a rosette

Perennials have three stages in their life cycle. The first year, we say that perennials sleep. In reality, they are not sleeping but rather concentrating their efforts below the ground. We often judge our plants by what we see above the ground without considering what is happening below the surface. The perennials are developing a strong root system while taking in water and nutrients critical for survival. Don’t expect a fully developed plant the first year.

During year two, you will likely see more blooms as well as foliage on your plant. However, your plant has not met its potential yet. It is still developing the strong root system which will support the plant for years to come. This is the year when perennials creep. The plant is larger, often fuller, and has more blooms than the prior year, but it still does not look like the mature plant on the tag. Of course, marketers are going to show you the plant at its optimum performance. You are starting to see potential in your plant, but it is still not yet the showstopper you imagined. 

Yarrow (Achillea) becoming more lush in its third season

Finally, after your patience is waning and all but exhausted, your perennials will WOW you. Year three has arrived and your perennials will leap! They will leap forth with abundant blooms, healthy foliage, and the promise of years of garden beauty. You can’t imagine your garden without the beautiful perennials you waited for so patiently.

None of this process will be possible unless you begin the process with strong and healthy plants. Join us for the Hall County Master Gardeners Fall Garden Expo on September 25 and 26 at Chicopee Woods Agricultural Arena. We carefully vet our vendors and offer only the strongest, healthiest perennials. Are you ready to grow your patience and beautiful gardens at the same time? After all, as traditional wisdom reminds us, “Patience and faith will accomplish more than force and frenzy.”