Another new strategy...
I have a new strategy for Non-Gardening Partner. Early this morning I wrote him a paper list of garden jobs and placed it on the kitchen table. I have higher hopes for the written word than the spoken one, because NGP doesn't really listen properly to me - I wonder why that is?
Friday 22nd May
This afternoon I worked for three hours weeding and trimming the plants in the Herb Spiral. Technically they should all be herbs, but no. Not in this garden! Included within are ornamental grasses, dahlias, calendulas, and all sorts of drop-in self-seeders - lots of yellow Euphorbias which look amazing in spring, and lots of seedling Orlayas which will winter over nicely. I really enjoyed myself. Apart from oodles of little grass seedlings the weeds were fairly simple to remove. I planted a pot of daffodil bulbs for a spring feature. Yeay!
Herb Spiral in Late May
It was nice just sitting down and pottering in one place. No plodding around with heavy loads, no scooping and raking. Nice to imagine all the flowers which will bloom here next summer.
NGP Hard at Work
Great news - NGP has already ticked off two items on his must-do list. Yeay! The written word is working! And he has finished bonfiring the pile of hedge trimmings in the front paddock - without being asked or instructed to.
Problem with a Clematis...
I've noticed a wee problem with the Clematis paniculata growing over the pergola. It's completely overpowered the Crepuscule rose. Checked with AI (my new gardening friend, hee hee) : Clematis paniculata is not an invasive weed (in New Zealand). It is a vigorous, robust climber that can reach 9 meters or more, and a balanced part of the natural forest ecosystem. Plucked up the courage to ask one more question : Can it be grown with a climbing rose? Answer : Only pair this clematis with an exceptionally large, vigorous climbing or rambling rose.
Crepuscule and Clematis
Oops. My mistake. Crepuscule (pictured in the above photograph) is a modest ornamental climbing rose, a soft apricot colour, and certainly not a part of any forest ecosystem. So NGP has kindly chopped the Clematis down near its base, and I've started to trim and untangle the top of it. I've always regarded Clematis montana as the garden thug to be avoided. Lesson learnt.
A happy gardener often starts with low expectations.- Moosey words of wisdom.
Told myself it's like raking up autumn leaves. Aargh! Pull out a little Clematis each day. Don't be desperate to see any progress. A happy gardener often starts with low expectations. Then one day - voila! 'Tis done! Jubilation!