Trim the Gunnera...
All along the water race the Gunnera leaves are turning brown after the recent frosts. 'Tis time for their yearly chop and trim. And so 'tis time for me to experience some semi-naked cold water immersion.
Gunnera in Winter
Why semi-naked? Because I have unsuccessfully owned two proper sets of waders, and both have leaked after minimal use. Hopeless! So I'm back to bare arms and legs, short shorts and merino top, woollen socks and crocs. An interesting sight! No photographs, please...
June Gunnera
Wednesday 4th June
Bravely I try and last for at least fifteen minutes in the cold water. I get muddy and lots of me gets wet. My legs turn beautifully flamingo pink. Then I zoom inside for a hot shower and warm up in front of the log-burner.
I have several large patches of Gunnera growing by the water. Lots, in fact, nearly all of them originally self-seeded. I've spent the last two days sorting out the patch by Middle Bridge. I work on land first, trimming what I can easily reach. I separate the leaves (which dry quickly) from the stems (which don't) and stash them in piles underneath the hedge. Then I semi-undress (sorry about this) and slide slowly into the cold water. Brr...
Today I managed to stay in there for half an hour. I was going really well, and nothing was too numb. But then it started to rain. Big blobs of water trickled down the back of my neck. Aargh! I might be silly but perhaps not this silly.
But I'm very happy to be silly in my own garden. Better here than in, for example, the supermarket. And I'm not afraid of getting wet in winter weather. Not really.
Takanini Camellia
But the reward of being inside out of the rain, not muddy, properly dressed again, wearing warm dry socks and slippers, cannot be over-emphasised! So groovy.
Golden Smiles Roses
Flowering now...
While I remember, must give a shout-out to the Camellia Takanini which is flowering now - it's very early, and very beautiful. As is the rose Sunny Smiles, planted on the lawn side of the water race, giving me some late blooms.
Such vibrant colours are magical amidst all the browns and greens of the winter garden. But these colours have much charm, too, and I'm lucky to have evergreens which happily grow here in winter.
Friday 6th June
Brr... It's cold - five degrees Celsius. I came home from Chamber Music and planted all my bulbs. Got cold and wet. And again extremely muddy. But all the daffodils and the tulips are now in pots, placed in hopefully the best positions to enjoy flowers in spring. And I'm warm inside in my clean clothes. My feet love their dry woollen socks! And I love the log-burner. Yeay!