Not too big...
Regarding this garden of mine, which isn't too big, except some days I see lots of things which need doing all at once, and then I wonder if it is too big after all...
The Top Lawn
Like a million autumn leaves to rake up and bag, maybe thirty Phormiums to trim and tidy up. Twenty trees which need their dead branches removed. Weeds to pull out, paths to scrape and cover with mulch, dahlias to cut down... Lots of stuff to pick up and process.
Don't think too deeply about 'bigness'...
Best not to think too deeply about 'bigness'. It's the time of year, after all : 'The Great Autumn Clean-Up'. Closely followed by 'The Great Winter Clean-Up' which is much the same, except it includes rose pruning.
Hello Othello
For the last few days I've been flitting around from one location to the next. Weeding the side house garden, then collecting the mess beside the cottage, then picking up firewood logs and stacking them by the back door, then spreading horse manure, lighting the bonfire, then doing some edges. Things always improve when the edges are done.
Autumn Wisteria
But I keep seeing things that need improving, though. One such is the house garden around the curved lounge windows. I have to completely re-dig around the dahlias and roses, mainly to remove (ha ha) all the Mexican daisies and weeds, leaving the little spreading Geranium (which I like). The soil needs enriching with organic matter, and maybe I should construct a curved edge to hold everything in place. Then I can think about introducing some choice perennials.
Maybe...
Maybe. Hmm. I'm going to start that later today. After I've done my piano practice and come back from lunch with my friend.
Little Front Garden Cleared
Late afternoon...
Famous last words : 'Have made a good start'. Just hoping that the Erigeron won't regrow from any tiny pieces of root I've left behind (Ms Google suggests it really only spreads via seeds). Have pulled out the self-sown Euphorbias but rescued the red penstemon. One barrow load of mess, but only two hours work, before the cold wind started to bite through my merino layers. Good mess, though.
Thursday 15th May
No gardening today - it's full of big music - my piano practice, singing rehearsals, a little bit of family, then one of my choirs to take. Lots to enjoy.
Rake up those leaves...
The autumn garden is still thrilling, but I still haven't started raking up the leaves. Oops. soon, soon. P.S. I am happy to have big musical commitments as well as a big garden. Which is not too big, really, when I half-shut my eyes and gaze lovingly into the distance.