A gardening legend...
My late spring garden is so beautiful. I'm working so hard planting new shrubs and grasses, and the results are amazing. I think I am a gardening legend - long may this optimism continue!
B-Puss in the Sun
Sunday 15th October
I've spent five hot hours digging, watering, planting, and organising the Pond Garden - B-Puss (my beautiful white cat) has been watching me, seemingly puzzled by the water. Yippee - the garden is finished - apart from little extras, that is. I love it!
Giant Gunnera
There is walking space around to the back of the pond - no strict path, and things look a bit bare at the moment because the Gunnera is being quite slow to unfurl. But I have resisted the temptation - Gunnera is a sleeping giant, and quickly grows and spreads out its huge leaves. I have respected its need for space.
I've planted a little row of Munstead lavender around the corner in the sun. Tough Corokias and Coprosmas, some Bowles Golden sedges, and a broad, green Japanese temple grass are in spaces by the water. The plantings are not strictly water plants, or marginals - the soil close to the edge is actually quite dry.
And all day the drying norwest wind has blown, and the gum trees have rustled and rattled, and my age-defying sunblock has had to work hard. Rusty has been helping, standing in the shallows waiting for anything to drop in the pond. Silly dog!
The Moosey Pond :- I am very lucky to have a pond - I really should make more of this water feature.
I wonder why I've never planted this area before - gardens by water have such an easy, winning charm. The pond is covered with blown-off cherry blossom, such a lovely contrast with the sharp-edged reflections of the flaxes underneath. What a beautiful day I have had! And good, well-behaved dog-company, too - the very best.
Monday 16th October
Readers who follow detective stories might have noticed - yesterday I had a whole selection of new shrubs to plant, not mentioned in any spending spree list. Oops. That's because yesterday I sneaked a visit to yet another nursery. So today I still have roses, rhododendrons, and a red maple tree to plant. But I think I know where they're going. And I really wanted to somehow 'finish' the new garden - a visual reward for all that digging.
A New Zealand Pond
During my very first country-gardener days I looked at the pond (dim memories of twelve gardening years ago). It was an irrigation pond in a dry paddock, and I knew I had to plant it with a New Zealand flavour - no water lilies, no beds of watery irises. The original hebes are huge, the cordylines too - and the flaxes have gone forth around the pond edge and multiplied. There are native weedy reeds and carexes, too.
My New Garden Bench
What's the saying? It's a bit of a mess, but it's mine! The new garden bench is perfectly positioned to enjoy the water. I would even have ducks and ducklings if I didn't have such a noisy bird-chasing dog.
Right. Today in the garden all remaining plants must be installed. Then I need to clear and weed in the Hump underneath the two Kowhai trees. Another obvious fact of garden life - the snow damaged neighbouring trees, resulting in trimming and sawing. More light equals happier Kowhais. The flowers are amazing. Oops - I can hear Brewster the rooster crowing from afar. Haru the fattest New Zealand lamb is bleating. Rusty is fed and bored - he's a 'doing dog' and wants to be outside.
Wet Chairs on the Patio
Early Afternoon...
Aargh! The southerly has struck - it's raining, and brrr.... Cold again! Silly weather. I've planted three Cistus (Cisti? Cistuses?) as well as the Lacy Lady Robinia tree (oops - that sort of sneaked into the front seat of my car yesterday) - and the red maple - all in the Wattle Woods. Unfortunately there was only time to plant one new rose - Gruss an Achen. Now I am off swimming - I will listen to the raindrops on the pool roof and think of my new little trees getting a quiet soak.
Tuesday 17th October
Today I have roses to plant, and heaps more newspaper to lay. Then I am allowed to relax and take the afternoon off. After yesterday's extreme swimming session (over one hour - my swimming buddy was very late), plus two choir practices, I feel very virtuous - and melodious! Now, concerning these bagged roses. Yesterday I was certain I knew where they were to be planted. Today I am dithering - I have seen at least three different gardens with sun and space for them. This could mean (ahem) that I need to buy some more. Eek! When will it end? The future is looking far too rosy!
The Birthday Rose Garden - Nearly in Flower
Lunchtime... Rose Mania
Oh dear me. I am in so much trouble! I have found excellent spaces for at least ten more roses, and am soooooo tempted to zoom off in my car to get some. I have even started analysing and colour grouping the proposed new entrants. For example, New Rose Area no. 3 is near the water in the Dog Path Garden, where the Iris Japonica used to get bleached by the sun. This is already home to a Buff Beauty and a Colourbreak, and I imagine some extra fluffy creams and beiges.
Freisia Rose :- Freisia is a bright yellow uncomplicated rose.
New Rose Area no. 4 - at the moment there are two standards, a Freisia and a Brilliant Pink Iceberg, plus yellow summer-flowering shrubs. Maybe some more yellows and bright whites, with blue flowering perennials as softeners. New Rose Area no. 1 is a sunny fence-line border near the Crepuscules on the pergola. It's getting a row of catmint, and perhaps a couple of smaller apricot roses.
See what I mean? Aargh! I guess I could redirect the housekeeping money - c'mon, my lovely superhens, lay lots of eggs for me! I think a quiet check on the bank balance is in order. Back soon.
Fruhlingsmorgen
Oops. I am back - but only with eight roses (and another little red maple). The three standard Blushing Pink Icebergs are planted, as planned, at the back of the Willow Tree Garden. A Spek's Centennial and a Buttercup are in the Dog-Path Garden by the water - coppery blooms and arching stems of deep gold should do the trick nicely. Margaret Merrill, bless her, and a bush version of the bright yellow Freisia have joined New Rose Area no. 4 - as planned.
All roses are planted and watered. Let the afternoon's relaxation begin - I am going to read and watch a replay of the cricket. New Zealand played South Africa overnight, our time, and I don't know who won. Shush! - don't tell me!