November and December 1996

'This is my Summer Garden Notebook. In the front, lists of 'things to do today' will be found. In the back, quotes and ideas from books...' So starts my earliest garden journal - I sound very well organised!

This is my first November list: Get river sand and horse poos, sow seeds (echiums, nicotiana, blue salvia, white honesty and variegated honesty), take cuttings (shrubby Lavateras, daisies, white geranium, Lavenders) and shift rwo Buff Beauties and one Margaret Merril.

N.B. Do HEAPS of Lavenders.

November List 2
• Get - stakes for tomatoes.
• Take cuttings - variegated Brunnera, Cistus with the pink flower, catmint, penstemon Purple Passion.
• Shift - miniature roses into pots.

December

Dig the Nursery Bed, plant Nicotianas and lavateras and get Christmas food for barbecue. Don't forget bananas.

Nice old roses for my garden: Maiden's Blush (Alba, nice), Prince Camille de Rohan - Hybrid Perpetual, deep crimson, Rosa Glauca, Madame Knorr (Portland, pink and smells really, really nice), Frances Dubreuil (Tea Rose, great smell).

Gardener's Comment in 2009

My, my - short and to the point! There was more detail in the (edited) Christmas food list item than anywhere else. I didn't know I grew a variegated Brunnera back then. Wow... wonder if I've still got it...