Thirteen years ago...
Might be seen as a little obsessive, but I've checked my journal to see exactly when I last removed the Lamium from the Septic Tank Garden. I've been trying my best for over a week now to dig it all out.
Lamium Leaves
Thirteen years ago...
Aha! Thirteen years ago, at the beginning of the year 2012, with a further minor clean-up two years later. Both done rather quickly and efficiently, with very little moaning and groaning, either. To be fair, this time I'm removing it from both sides of the fence, so the area to be cleared is at least four times as large. But I was ever so much younger then...
Thursday 7th August
Today I allowed myself to take a break from digging out Lamium. I moved to the front house patio and started cleaning up things. Oh joy! Have three barrowfuls for the bonfire. Have pruned a few of the patio roses. Oh further joy! Have lots and lots of Pelargonium cuttings, which I've popped into water for now.
Later...
Am very lucky. Just after I lit the bonfire the wind picked up. Oops. Imperfect timing! Dithered for five minutes (both the wind and I), then things calmed down, and all was safe and well. It was only a tiddly bonfire, anyway. Now I'm off to visit family.
Acanthus
Friday 8th August
Today there's no time to lose. A southerly (cold) front is arriving late morning, with rain and snow (but not for us, we aren't high enough above sea level, she said confidently). So I'm going outside early to pull out more Lamium. Until it gets too cold and wet.
Three hours later...
Yeay for me! The rain has only just started. And have I finished pulling out the Lamium? Almost! I've now reached the Acanthus, and removed all that was growing pondside of the wire fence. I've dumped all my mess on the fence by the Pump House.
Have 'uncovered' (a slight exaggeration) trees and shrubs which I'd totally forgotten about, and trimmed their lower dead branches. Cleaned up a slightly squashed Phormium tricolor. Found a sad climbing rose which was going nowhere. Now it's gone somewhere - onto the bonfire.
More of the deep pink rhododendron has died back, so I need Non-Gardening Partner with his chainsaw. He (wisely) has stayed inside, well out of my reach.
Garden Clean-Up
One thing I regret - I didn't have time (or energy) to start spreading the horse manure on this garden. But it needs some careful raking, just to make sure all unwanted things have been removed. Have taken some photographs which look rather unspectacular, but useful as 'before-and-after's. Just wait until I get it all shrubby-planted!