This morning I spent an educational moment or three studying a bee who was trying to exit a campanula flower. Mrs Buzz-u-like’s drawers were full of pollen and she was slip-sliding and wheel spinning, as if her path was lined with treacle. Perhaps it was. It was pure slapstick. And educational of course. I learned never to enter a campanula flower without a ladder.
Plan B
Yesterday I implemented Plan B in my relentless battle against the unremitting mollusc onslaught. B stands for beer. Beer traps. This morning I fished out the inebriated/drowned and was impressed/horrified to find approximately forty of varying shapes and sizes in just two traps. They were enticed by Tesco’s definitely not finest but cheapest beer. Not the prettiest way to start a day, poking with an old fork at bloated slimey mini-sausages. It did however substantially improve. Sun, more sun and a whole lot of gardening.
Life
“Gardening is not instant, or a quick fix, do not be fooled by those programmes, life isn’t like that, be prepared for the long haul” this is my rallying speech to new clients. Looking at The Mantles’ garden this week, just over three years since I arrived, I am proud. Not just for me, but for the Honourables. We have all worked hard. When I arrived spirits were low, love was absent, the garden was a thorn, a chore, an out of control abomination consisting of desperation weed suppressant and rough bark mulch. A desert of subsoil and Spanish bluebells.
Now it is a joy. Love has returned. My work here is not done. I hope it will go on forever. But I know it won’t. And that is fine too. Life is like that.
Six on Saturday – Angels and Demons
Hip hip hooray, it’s another Saturday! I’ve had a haircut and a bowl of chips with mayonnaise and now I am ready for anything. Even a Six on Saturday. No idea what I am talking about? Where have you been? Lost in the Bornean jungle, or Ikea’s soft furnishing department? Don’t worry, Sir Propalot will update you on proceedings.
First we have a splendid rose. It was in the garden when we moved here, so I have a valid reason for not knowing which one it is. I suppose I could do a little research, but to be honest I’m not that bothered. All I know is that it is beautiful and fragrant. Which is adequate.
Next we have Parahebe ‘Snow Cloud’ which has weathered the hard winter admirably. The other parahebe in the garden, although alive, has not fared so well. It is looking decidedly ropey and is on the “pull yourself together or you are out” list. Swotty Snow Cloud is definitely not on that list. Straight to the top of the class you go!
Spikey plants are not encouraged in the gardens that I work in, let alone in my own. OH bought this pyracantha, even though when he suggested it I said through gritted teeth “if you want it, feel free”. I concede that it is great for the wildlife and the flowers are rather lovely. This does not detract from the fact it is a vicious monster to the gardener.
A little late to the spring party, but none the less very welcome, this primula is strutting its stuff this weekend.
Earlier this week I said to Ms Button, whilst attacking the forest of mint that someone decided was a good idea to plant directly into the ground, “Do you ever wish you had a time machine and you could go back to the moment the offending plant was being planted and say “stop, in the name of humanity, do not put that thug in what is to become my garden!”” I would say just that to whoever planted this pink geranium in my garden. It is a thug and pops up in, under and over everything. I believe it to be Geranium nodosum. Ruthless.
Last, but definitely not least, we have Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’. Not blue, but a rhapsody indeed. Fragrant and floriferous. Wonderful.
That is your lot, another week passes, another six to savour. Some demons, some angels, some demonic angels, some …. you know where I’m going. Thanks to The Prop, onwards and upwards!
Bus Woman’s holiday
A day off. Joyously free of obligations. No chores or distractions, just gardening, wall to wall, guilt free. The dead were removed, the impatient were put in their place, dahlias, sunflowers and cosmos all planted out, a feast for the molluscs. Perhaps I should have laid out a table cloth. The morning may well bring sorrow.
An Embarrassment of Riches
Suddenly, there is so much to admire, to drool over. So much to I want to share. An embarrassment of riches.
The simple magenta flower of Lychnis coronaria, the rose campion, is today’s chosen one. Elegant, easy and effortless. Enough.
In with the new
It survived its first day on the job!
Out with the old
I’ve got a new camera. Yes another one. I don’t mean my big posh one, that is quite safe. I’m taking about the little Canon Ixus I take to work with me. The abused one.
The retiring camera somehow, I can’t remember quite when or where, sustained a chipped lens. Ever since it has been tricky finding a photo that hasn’t got a sunburst or blur in a obvious place. This accident happened way before Christmas, but I haven’t allowed myself a replacement because I was teaching myself a lesson. If you don’t look after your toys, you can’t have nice new ones. Up until now. I think I have suffered enough. A lesson has been learned. And I have bought insurance.
This is the final photograph by last year’s model. Now he will join his brothers in arms in the retirement home for mistreated Ixus. I’m sure he will have a few tales to tell.
Surplus
Whilst roughly chopping vegetables (I always take this instruction as a suggestion of attitude as well as indicator of dice size) for our tea (sausage, haricot bean and harissa stew, since you ask) I noticed that seed in one of the tomatoes had germinated (excuse the blurry photo, I was stirring the onions at the same time).
Well I never, what a world, sack all the gardeners, we are surplus to requirements.
Hookey
I played hookey today. I skived off. There were things that should have been done and weren’t. There is a deadline, don’t you know. But I defiantly chose to ignore it. Instead I visited the garden of some friends, the wonderful Round House. I shared a cuppa with old mates and scoffed a chocolate brownie, chitty chatting. On the way home we visited Max and drank more coffee and chewed more cud. Once home, instead of attending to obligations, I went into my own garden and pottered and dithered.
That is what a little bit of sunshine does. It leads me astray. Just as well it doesn’t happen that often.
Off The Edge Gardening 