Seriously busy...
A proper daffodil
Oops. August is almost over. But this is OK, and I'm happy, because I've been a serious and busy August gardener. I've enjoyed my garden's moods - the August weather has been kind to both of us. Much appreciated!
This winter we've had no really nasty southerly winter storms, and only the mildest of frosts - like one this morning. By writing down these weather facts I am not inviting in wintry doom and destruction. What will be will be, regardless of what I say and think about things! Brr...
The need to mulch, trim, prune, spread horse manure, and rake in August has not once been compromised by the demands of e.g. housework, vacuuming, and so on. Nor has boredom driven me inside to watch daytime TV. Phew!
I've only really had one proper day off, when Non-Gardening Partner, my friend, and I climbed up Mount Herbert (919m). It's a lovely, benign climb on a good winter's day (Herbert is a tussock-covered blob of a mountain, usually snow-free, not usually wind-free).
Back down in my garden (90m) the early rhododendrons are now flowering - the big reds Kaponga and Cornubia. The Daphnes are in full perfume, while the early Camellias are finishing. Hello to the latecomers Jury's Yellow and Nonie Haydon! Showing off here - two late bloomers whose names I actually know. And hello, Rosemary! Welcome to the first 'proper' daffodils and the first little blue Muscaris.
Kaponga Rhododendron
Today I made a start on cleaning up the corner of the Frisbee Garden. I cannot promise that I will finish it, either. It is seriously serious work.
Euphorbia polychroma
Did I?
Did I deliberately encourage the Euphorbia polychroma to mass plant itself here? Hmm... Mass trimming it is rather annoying, and unfortunately creeping grass from the paddock has joined the garden party. As have lots of unknown scruffy shrub-trees. But wait - they do a grand job screening the neighbours. So obviously they, too were planned? Hmm...
Some years ago I remember weeding thoroughly (oh yeay?), then mass planting Agapanthus, patches of daffodils, and large green Cordylines. Today in my scratchings I found a red one, some variegated Coprosmas, an ornamental Miscanthus grass, and several Hebes. All totally squashed, the Agapanthus completely submerged, little point in them staying put.
Since this little garden has developed a mind of its own, I think the less tinkering from me the better. Maybe some precision squirtings of weed killer on the grass, then let things be. If I was a show-off (perish the thought!) I could claim I am 'rewilding' things, hee hee...
Prunus Blossom
Monday 20th August
Hmm. I am busy waiting for the tree men to arrive. What a nonsense! Waiting for tree men is not a busy thing. Better that I pop the dogs into their kennels with breakfast and get going for my swim. Monday morning is swimming morning.
Much, much later...
Sob. Sniff. Sob some more. Sniff some more. So sad. The tree men didn't come. And I sort of waited after swimming, and I sort of sulked, not doing any gardening (actually I was writing some music). I was soooooo looking forward to the next 'new look' for The Hump. My day has been sadly tree-men-less...
But I've been wandering around The Hump with the dogs thinking about paths - the perfect way to start a large new garden area. This has to be done seriously. There are serious questions to pose to oneself. For example, from where do I wish to enter The Hump? And to where do I wish to travel? More than one exit, perhaps? Do I want to stop en route to where-ever and sit down on something?
Maybe tomorrow...
And who knows? Maybe the tree men will come tomorrow...