Okay. It's that time of the year again- Reckoning time. You know what I mean..the time when you turn the pages of your garden journal back to a page headed '2017!', look at a sketch on which is marked 'winter garden here', and then raise your eyes to the wasteland that still remains. Oh, it's just me doing that? Never mind then.
Because it is also the time of second chances. The time when you turn to a crisp and blank page, head it '2018!' and sketch another map. I thought it'd be fun to share some of my big plans with you..and actually, was hoping for suggestions too.
But let's start with the happy stuff.
1. Nasturti-yums: Believe it or not, I actually planted nasturtiums unsuccessfully for a couple of years, only to lose them to the hens. This time, they are in pots. And they are stunning!
2. Misplaced yucca: Last year, a good friend of Mian's decided to stay with us for a while. I wanted to give him something nice by the entrance to the guest room. Something welcoming that he could look at while sitting on the steps. And so of course, I moved two spiny yuccas from near the path to the doorway. Structural, with lovely shades of cerulean and jade, they were amazing in that spot. So amazing in fact, that I never moved them back. But they have been growing all this time, and will grow even more.
And so this winter I will move them. The question is, where? I have three spots where they will be perfect. And a coin has only two sides..
3. The Iris bed: It looks bare now, and the chickens do damage it a lot, but I actually am quite happy with this. It has a comfy bench, and a nice little succession of iris-mirabilis-marigolds going on.
And speaking of goings-on, please do look at the Madhu-Kochanie Digging Project. I hate to deter them, they are having so much fun!
4. The walk down: It's looking better with the proper path. And I actually have a lot planted there..hydrangeas, magnolia, chaenomeles, chrysanthemums, salvia, weigela, digitalis. They just need to pull their socks up now.I am aiming for a pinky purply shrub walk.
5. The fenced garden: Across the path from the iris bed. Admittedly, it is at its worst now.
It does have some colour in it later in the year. The problem is that barring one each of azalea, rose and forsythia this area is rather annuals-dependent. But it has a view of the mountains, which makes me want a table and chairs there. More perennials needed.
6. The Winter Garden: Blah. Bah. Humbug. I think I will indulge myself in a separate post detailing my woes. But till then, look at the awfulness:
The 'six-on-saturday' meme is hosted by The Propagator. In his words, it's "Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything – a flower, a pest, a success, a project, a plan, an abject failure – anything at all!" So if you want to find out what's happening in other gardens, do go on over to his blog!
Because it is also the time of second chances. The time when you turn to a crisp and blank page, head it '2018!' and sketch another map. I thought it'd be fun to share some of my big plans with you..and actually, was hoping for suggestions too.
But let's start with the happy stuff.
1. Nasturti-yums: Believe it or not, I actually planted nasturtiums unsuccessfully for a couple of years, only to lose them to the hens. This time, they are in pots. And they are stunning!
2. Misplaced yucca: Last year, a good friend of Mian's decided to stay with us for a while. I wanted to give him something nice by the entrance to the guest room. Something welcoming that he could look at while sitting on the steps. And so of course, I moved two spiny yuccas from near the path to the doorway. Structural, with lovely shades of cerulean and jade, they were amazing in that spot. So amazing in fact, that I never moved them back. But they have been growing all this time, and will grow even more.
3. The Iris bed: It looks bare now, and the chickens do damage it a lot, but I actually am quite happy with this. It has a comfy bench, and a nice little succession of iris-mirabilis-marigolds going on.
4. The walk down: It's looking better with the proper path. And I actually have a lot planted there..hydrangeas, magnolia, chaenomeles, chrysanthemums, salvia, weigela, digitalis. They just need to pull their socks up now.I am aiming for a pinky purply shrub walk.
5. The fenced garden: Across the path from the iris bed. Admittedly, it is at its worst now.
6. The Winter Garden: Blah. Bah. Humbug. I think I will indulge myself in a separate post detailing my woes. But till then, look at the awfulness:
The 'six-on-saturday' meme is hosted by The Propagator. In his words, it's "Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything – a flower, a pest, a success, a project, a plan, an abject failure – anything at all!" So if you want to find out what's happening in other gardens, do go on over to his blog!
8 comments:
That bottom nasturtium is such an unusual colour. Gorgeous. I'm glad you got some to survive this time because they are a great addition for the foliage, blossom, seeds, not to mention eating. Here, mine usually have caterpillars visit, but they're easy to pluck off for the birds. I love how you think about where to sit in your garden in addition to how it looks. Spaces to be in. That's what's great about gardens.
I like that you are comfortable with letting the chickens do what chickens do though I guess you're not telling us that you plant enough things in the garden that, in the end, you win and they remain happy. I don't have chickens though I do have foxes, squirrels, the occasional badger (who I don't like at all) and other wildlife to contend with. But we get along OK too.
I like to put nasturtium blossoms in my salads, they look so pretty!
Looks like you have plenty of potential there, and loads of ideas. Looking forward to seeing it develop over the year!
I do plant extra, but I also put in lots of defence..a little fence here, some stones there..not worried about them eating the leaves, but I do hate it when the chooks damage the roots!
And I chomp on the leaves!
Thank you!
My goal is to have enough nasturtium plants to pickle a jar of seeds. Think I will get there?
Sitting out in a garden is a joy..
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