11 April 2007

Busy bees, busy birds, and busy me

I've been so busy in the garden and there's so much to report that I've had to split it into more than one posting today, when I've finally had chance to reflect on recent gardening.

There's been a general overhaul of the garden this spring, and I had to be ruthless and unsentimental, in order to reclaim some space. Quite a lot of vegetation has gone on the compost heap, or to the green waste recycling facility at the local tip.

The garden was getting on my nerves a little, but I wasn't sure why, until I looked at it very critically and realised that there were a fair number of plants that were more trouble than they were worth, were in the wrong place, or that I just didn't like very much. So I've been very busy out there, and now, for the first time in years, there are actually empty spaces and blank bits of house wall, free of climbers.

When I started gardening here I seem to have collected a lot of plants and planted them without really knowing what I was doing. Some have worked out and flourished, and others haven't. A lot of things seem to have disappeared, probably because there was too much in there. Certain things - like some hardy geraniums, and the Arum italicum, seem to have done too well, and there were bits of them everywhere, far more than I wanted. Then there were the bits of things in pots that I'd intended to give away and never had. (And then found that most people I knew had them already and didn't want any more, as they'd grown too well in their gardens too.)

So, hard as it was, in order to feel like this was a garden and not a place for any old random plant to grow, I had to get tough. I've had a horrible cold just recently and was in a bad mood about it, so it was easier to think "Sod it, this is all going on the compost heap!".

The more exciting stage, after the clearing out, was to think about what plants I really like, and wanted, and to find some funds for them and go out and buy them. Details to follow, when they flower and do their thing.

posted - Wednesday, April 11, 2007