Calmly and rationally...
Calmly and rationally, with not even a smidgen of negativity, I will outline the garden locations I need to clean up over the next few days : the garden behind the glass-house, the path to Rooster Bridge, and the immediate garden over the water.
winter hens and roosters
I also need to finish cleaning out Henworld, the Agapanthus garden which housed my collection of roosters and hens.
Details of clean-up
- Dig out half the silver Astelia, divide into smaller pieces, put in pots.
- Plant the Heuchera by the path.
- Work towards Rooster Bridge, raking and clearing.
It might be a good idea to clear Rooster Bridge of any overhanging mess that could trip a mature gardener (me) up. Do not, under any circumstances, moan that anything is too difficult. Nothing is too difficult...
Camellia flowering again
Monday morning...
...unless the temperature outside is only five degrees Celsius. But the valiant winter sun is shining. Have just had morning coffee outside with my dogs (wearing woolly gloves, me that is). Watched them doing roly-polies on the frosty lawn, and became inspired. Decided that I can definitely spend some cold-time outside, and just roll around on the grass to warm myself up. Maybe?
Four hours later...
So far, so good. Have divided the Astelia and planted the Heuchera. Have cleared the glass-house path past the Camellias to Rooster Bridge. Have taken seven loads of mess to the bonfire. On the edge of feeling cold all afternoon (particularly my hands), so lit the bonfire a bit early. Am pleased with my day.
Pretty Hellebore
Thursday 30th July
Started off collecting more gum bark from the Hen House Garden, then became side-tracked walking past Middle Garden to the bonfire. Stopped, raked out mess, dug out unwanted Berberis seedling shrubs, tidied up the big Phormium Tricolor and the palish green Astelia.
Spread horse manure around the large pink flowering Rhododendrons. Pruned the Corokias, raked the path, cut down the sprouting Viburnums. Good and necessary winter gardening tasks, even if Middle Garden wasn't on my location list. Oops. But it needed to be done.
Then I lit the bonfire, hoping that the high winds in the forecast didn't come early. They didn't - all good. Estimate another seven loads of mess got burnt.
D-Day...
Tomorrow is my personal D-Day. D for Dental Surgeon and the extraction of my dodgy front tooth. This appointment, booked two months ago, has hung over me this last week, like a glowering black cloud. Silly, really. Just a different way to finish off July. Hmm...
Winter Afternoon Bonfire