Free Agapanthus!
Agapanthus
Am very excited. Have found a nearby source of free species Agapanthus, already dug up. So far have collected one car-boot load.
Welcome to the Agapanthus!
They are going to be planted in the Welcome Garden, the first of my garden areas, between the driveway and the boundary fence. There are many, many more clumps to come, if I want them. And I do!
Saturday 7th June
But it's only five degrees Celsius outside, and there's a cold biting wind. The realities of winter gardening are as follows : I will try and work for one hour.
I will remind myself that I am not standing in the cold water race. Winter is not my enemy. It's just there in the background. I will be tough and strong. I can do this. Yes? Maybe? YES!!!!!
The Welcome Garden
One hour later...
Maybe no? My hands got very cold. And then it started raining. And I couldn't find the sharp spade, which I needed to chop up the remaining two (large) clumps. But lots of sturdy divisions are ready for planting, and I've dumped the root remains underneath a large Hebe. They can sit there and resprout for me.
Memo to self - this Hebe needs a severe trim. OK. Maybe when the temperature is closer to ten degrees. Digital dexterity and all that...
Later...
Have just been over to the cottage with some new cushions for the white cane verandah chairs. Found Mister Speckles snug in his cat basket. And he didn't hiss at me - that mouth-open picture is a relaxing yawn. It's not very noticeable, but Speckles has lost both his lower canine teeth.
Speckles in his Cat Basket
Spent the last half hour of daylight peeping through my mid-summer photographs. Oh my goodness! The flower colours were stunning. But would I want an ever-lasting summer? No. Winter gardening keeps me well-balanced.
Winter Reds
Sunday 8th June
But winter gardening can be challenging. As is Arvo Part's Berliner Messe, in which I sang alto earlier this morning. It needs very special voices (maybe not mine), and a very special acoustic, to work properly.
So on the way home, feeling slightly musically disgruntled, I picked up another boot-load of Agapanthus. Got straight into my work - sat down in the driveway with the axe, spade, and kitchen steak knife, splitting the clumps into divisions for planting. One hour and a half later - oh boy! Muddy, cold, but triumphant!
Nothing is actually planted yet, but I have lots of Agapanthus plants to fill in the gaps in the Welcome Garden. Being free is great. Yeay for me.