Intensive and concentrated...
Spring in my garden is so intensive and concentrated. It's a time of great acceleration in garden growth, with shrubs, trees, and plants changing almost daily. New blossom appearing, flowers popping up, fresh new Gunnera leaves unfurling.
Weeping Cherry Blossom
It's the season of 'What's next?'s. Easy to miss things when busy with weeding, clearing, trimming, pruning hydrangeas and the last of the roses. Have to check for beautiful new surprises every day.
Some lovely spring surprises are subtle and easily overlooked (like my oh so small patch of Trilliums). Some flowers are finished almost as soon as they start (like the weeping Silver Pear tree blossom). Others just 'soldier on', ignoring the wind and the rain.
Fred Climbing a Cordyline
Friday 19th September
Unfortunately today I had garden clearing which could not be overlooked. I've been trimming the Carexes around the Gunnera in Middle Garden, and also clearing and weeding the path. Ended up in the water race to slice down a species Phormium tenax.
Moany, moany...
After four hard working hours, I gave up, had a shower, and went apres-gardening. My fingers are a bit sore (moany moany) and I am wearing my Ugg boots (which are not allowed to go outside for camera walks). So if the weeping pears have made huge blossom progress today, that's just too bad.
Saturday 20th September
Early morning thought : I wonder if the need to weed can ever actually ruin the pleasure one gets from a garden? Weeds should be part of the joy of garden growth, yes? Maybe not too big a part, methinks...
Today my plans for bonfiring have been dealt a natural blow. And I do mean 'blow' - it's too windy! Have to clean up from yesterday, but I am going swimming and morning coffee, then on to a singing rehearsal. When will I finally get home?
Monday 21st September
After a ridiculously big music weekend I'm back, free. Yeay! No more rehearsals (well, maybe just a couple this week, but we won't talk about them). Did three hours gardening. Cleared out yet more Carexes from around the Gunnera in Middle Garden. Then sat down in the middle to trim Astelias and gather up dead Cordyline leaves.
Noticed a lot of healthy Pseudopanax seedlings - happy to let them take over (famous last words?). Found some hidden stones, edges of a long gone path, and repositioned them. At the end of the day I lit the bonfire.
New Gunnera Growth
My new possum merino blend socks had arrived in the post. They are amazing. And I have a new rooster. He's a metal one, but he's settled in in rather nicely with the others (many of whom are ceramic). Life is pretty good.
New Metal Rooster
Yes, life is pretty good.