Sunil I’ve been somewhat out of the habit of writing during this winter season; with not much going on in the garden there hasn’t been a great deal to report. Seed and plant catalogues have been coming through the letter box promising riches and filling my dreams with visions of overflowing borders full of flowers, but the reality at the moment is somewhat different.
As the winter sun filters through the trees on a cold morning, it lights up a work very much in the early stages of progress. I must admit to still – a year on – thinking about the old garden I was preparing to leave this time last year. The daffodils would be shooting up through the grass, the snowdrops would already be in flower and the heady fragrance of sweet box would greet me every time I stepped out of the front door. That was a precursor to a spectacular spring show.
I don’t have that here yet and I miss it.
It’s not all melancholy though. All I need to do is to think of the progress and planting that I did last year in this new garden. The side and front borders have already been cleared, restored and planted and another border at the front is now currently accepting plants too. Thinking ahead to this coming season, there’s lots to look forward to. It will be the second year for the roses in the ground and hopefully, the newly planted wisteria will wake up and take off like a rocket, just like I expect the rambling roses against the trees at the back to do. There’s a honeysuckle in the blossom tree to establish and of course, the trugs at the front and the patio pot collection. There’s a Rosa “New Dawn” waiting to be planted and a Banksiae Lutea rose waiting for its new home too. I hope “Paul’s Himalayan Musk” rose will also be joining the roster; there’s a tree at the back with its name on it.
This coming year there’s lots to watch out for and I can’t wait for it all to kick off!
11 comments
Sunil,
Patience is not one of a gardener’s strong suits, is it? I know I tap my foot waiting for things to happen. And as we’ve all heard, “a watched pot never boils!” Having said that, you’ve made so much progress in the past year. I know you will be pleasantly surprised come summer. I love Paul’s Himalayan Musk. I bought Paul’s Lemon Pillar for our little patch in London. But we moved back to the US before it ever bloomed. Cheers!!
Hello Lynn, it’s a mix really. I am happy to wait ages for several plants (wisteria, roses, strelitzia) to grow and mature, but with others, I want them instantly. I still need to put a convincing “business case” together before I’m allowed to buy yet another rambling rose like “Himalayan Musk” as I’ve yet to decide where a Banksiae Lutea rose is supposed to go!
Starting over is exciting but also frustrating because you leave behind everything that was established and dependable. You’ve accomplished a ton of work in a very short period and should be quite proud of your self. But a few pots of daffs from the garden center might help you get over the hump of Ugh Ick and Blah until you can start planting this spring. 🙂
Hello Tammy, I was wondering about daffodils as I’ve had to dig up a few established clumps as part of border restoration. I wasn’t able to have an autumn bulb-buying fest last year as I didn’t have anywhere prepared for them to be planted in so I am a bit behind with that. I think for late winter/early spring we might have the odd camellia flower tentatively opening up, but it’s not as comforting or as “nice” as seeing the back lawn erupt with daffodils like the old garden used to. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually but it can’t some fast enough sometimes.
The second year should bring about a lot of progress Sunil. It probably does not look like much just now but a lot of change will take place over the summer.
I wish you a very good gardening season in 2015!
Hello Alain, thank you, I hope so. I’m looking forward to seeing how the plants I managed to get in the ground last year grow and develop this year in new surroundings. I’m also looking forward to setting up an irrigation system to take the pain out of watering all the patio pot plants and I’m planning a large seed order and some bits of wood to set up a cheap but long length of outdoor staging for all the seed trays I’m going to need.
Hi Sunil! I wondered the other day where you were….. but it’s cold and miserable, and I am not out in my garden much, either! Paul’s Himalayan Musk is glorious – but I have no trees big enough to support it. So get it and enjoy it! I am about to start looking for bulb shoots in the next few days, I so like that little job!
Hello Mrs Mac, the bad weather and Christmas had prevented me from going outside too much and took me away from gardening for a while so I was a bit “lost”. All it took was a fine weekend of winter sun for me to start getting back into the swing of it though. The new season starts here!
I’m just blown away by how green your garden is at this time of year and by the thought of daffodils and snowdrops coming up in January. (Daffodils are April flowers in my climate.) I love the way you can see the shapes of your flower beds and the flow of the garden at this time of year. And, of course, plant catalogs are an important source of inspiration for all of us. Here’s to a great year of gardening ahead!
Hi Jean, the huge evergreen hedge and grass do make it look very green and we haven’t had a blanket of snow yet to cover it all so it stays this way for most of the winter. I’m hoping for good growth on the plants I’ve managed to put in last year, and steady progress on the new borders. It’s a lot of work, but I’m looking forward to it!
It’s hard not to think about the loveliness of gardens past. I often think of the house we lived in two moves ago. Bathed in sunlight, both front and back! What I could have done with that garden, what it would look like now if we hadn’t moved! But that way madness lies. Look ahead to the beauties you are about to bring forth.