Should be easy?
Michelia in the Wheelbarrow
Shrubs in big pots should be easy to handle. One quickly clears a space, and pops them into the garden. Half an hour per shrub? Reality - more like half a day!
Easy?
Easy? Nope. Root-bound, heavy to lift, difficult to tease the roots out. Takes me ages to dig a planting hole big enough.
Friday January 9th
Am making progress, though. Have planted one Michelia and dug holes for two more. My tame brown blackbird has been with me, watching for worms and grubs - she is such a darling bird. Even the swinging axe doesn't scare her. I love her! I think she understands why I love to be working in my garden. And, of course, food for my soul is food for her tummy!
NGP impresses in 2026...
Am very impressed with Non-Gardening Partner so far this year. He's been taking more of an interest in what I'm doing in the garden.
He's been offering to help, he's fixed the second wheelbarrow (woo hoo! I now have two green wheelbarrows), and carts heavy loads (like compost bags) around for me.
Saturday 10th January
It's too hot today - thirty degrees Celsius. Have only managed a couple of hours in the end of the Hump Garden. Planted two more Michelias and cleared Carexes from underneath a pretty striped Phormium and a Cordyline. There are too many spikes in this garden! A fourth Michelia is soaking in the tub - haven't dug its planting hole yet.
Clearing the End of the Hump
And now NGP is off down the road to collect (and pay for) six more bags of compost. Brilliant man. Will make a cup of tea and read my book.