There is more to Turkey than cornbread dressing with four vegetable sides. There is an entire country the size of Texas to explore, and I was fortunate to see a part of it in October.

My curiosity about Mogul and Islamic gardens from the Ottoman empire led me to Istanbul and beyond.  In the extravagant palaces and harems roses were planted in grids for masses of color and fragrance.   Water fountains and pools were more important than large flower borders. In the city itself, I was struck by how little personal green space there was in a metropolis of 18 million people. I was told that the gardens were inside the Hans and not meant to be seen from the street, as so much in Turkey is not meant to be seen by the merely curious. Yet, geraniums in old pots were often tucked into niches in walls and windows facing the street.

I found tulips in carpets, ceramics, and folklore. Alas, all the wild tulips on the vast steeps were dormant. In October in the country villages around Cappadocia Cosmos Sensation growing as hedges and Marigolds were growing as foundation plants. Perhaps they never go fully dormant against a warm wall. Many arbors and fences were planted with grapes for shade as well as for personal wine production. It prompted me to wonder why we Atlanta gardeners don’t plant grapevines instead of Clematis armandii or the ubiquitous Confederate Jasmine on our arbors and fences.

Travel expands my planting list as well as my experiences and points of view.   I’ll try to avoid expanding my waist on this Turkey Day, aka, Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving.

Marcia Weber