The shortest day is nearly here...
The shortest day is nearly here. That's the very middle of winter, the winter solstice, after which my gardening days will get longer, the sun will get higher, and the weather will get colder, according to the statistics. Eek!
Friday 19th June
Brr... I've been standing in the water race trying to clean out tree rubbish from underneath the waterwheel. Snow melt has made the river (and its irrigation canals, one of which my water race is) impossibly cold.
I scooped out pieces of pine tree, large strips of gum bark, and gorse branches (ouch). I ended up sore and soaked, and still that blasted wheel refused to turn...
Waterwheel at Chanticleer Garden
So I went off, humphing, to divide and replant some rock lilies and penstemons. I didn't last long (wet jeans - hopelessly cold in winter). But I'm pleased with my work. The Koru Garden now needs more perennials - anything lemon or blue would be acceptable.
- 'Sensible gardeners should always think shrubby thoughts.'
- -Moosey Words of Wisdom.
And let's be totally sensible and think about shrubs, too. The Rosemary planted around the sculpture is flowering now with blue spiky petals. A golden leafed Choisya would look nice in here, nestled in front of the large green and red phormiums. Sensible gardeners should always think shrubby thoughts.
And now I'm apres-gardening in front of the log-burner, wearing my debatably stylish mohair jersey covered with big purple tulips. I'm feeling much better - fire and dry socks are two wonderfully cheery things. Just think - it's only two days until the winter solstice, when the shortest day for the Moosey Garden will be just under nine hours. And then - yippee! Spring! Well, sort-of semi-spring...
Saturday 20th June
Do you know what I'd like to be doing this gloomy, dour afternoon? Just sitting in front of the log-burner, thinking excited thoughts about all my new spring bulbs. Except - blast! I haven't planted ONE.
Alliums at Chanticleer Garden
And my allium hunt seems doomed - no-one spoken to in the nurseries has ever seen any for sale here. Don't I just mean onions? I've been stressing the adjective 'ornamental' and blithering about perennial gardens in Britain and the north-east of the USA...
The Moosey Webmaster :- Happppppy Birrrrrrrthday to youuuuuuuu, old son...
So instead I'm going to read my Gardens of Ireland book and take notes. Hee hee. And. by the way, a huge Happy Birthday to elder son of Moosey, webmaster extraordinaire and long-distance All Black rugby supporter. Go the All Blacks against France tonight!
Sunday 21st June
It's here - this is THE DAY! The winter solstice. I've only got the morning to celebrate gardenwise - what should I do first? Plant the rest of the new Phormiums? Yes, yes, yes. I don't think it's too cold outside...
Mid-Winter Garden Design
A mid-winter garden design report - according to my books, the bare bones of a garden's carcass are clearly visible in winter. The proportions and themes of good garden design are extremely obvious. I've been testing these ideas by walking around and staring through things, looking for hidden links. Wandering down the driveway, the size of the new driveway garden is just perfect, the eggy lawn shape thus created is gorgeous, and in the near distance The Shrubbery, behind its stone wall, is delightful. Ha!
Ram and Ewe
But - to my clear-sighted winter eyes The Shrubbery is far too small. I knew that - the Moosey Farm Manager needs to release another small slice of the Ram Paddock, shift the fence, and not grumble. Since the MFM is off today in the mountains skiing, I could use the 'guilty weekend' angle... Right. Winter solstice gardening here I come.
Two Hours Later...
Good work! I've been weeding and mulching in the gardens behind the stables, while Rusty the dog has been zooming around doing circuits with an old plastic pot in his mouth. He is almost as mad as I am...