Overwhelmed - but by what?
Earlier this week I was feeling overwhelmed with the amount of gardening work I needed to do. This morning I decided it was time to deal to the things that were bugging me. Couldn't remember any of them!
Mess to be Cleaned Up
Had to take a notebook and pen and go slowly around my garden, using my eyes, writing a list of each garden area's immediate needs. Gardens should not overwhelm their gardeners - they should entice them in and make them feel lighter.
By the Water Race
lots of lists...
Right. So now I have lists for every location, but suspect they will not be very helpful, since a recurring item is 'clean up the mess'. I know that! I also know that winter is the clean-up season.
Start by the Glass-House...
I've picked one area - the garden by the Glass-house. The plan is to start by trimming the Ligularias and Ferns. Then the species Phormium tenaxes are coming out. Will need the axe. I can listen to the running water in the race, and might even finish my day standing in the cold water.
Three hours later...
OK. I made a good start. Filled the wheelbarrow with slimy mess. Dug out several old Hebe stumps, pruned a few roses. Sliced off ferns, cut back Carexes. Full of good intentions I started chopping down the first Phormium tenax, but all of me just got too cold. So I went into the water, stayed in as long as my feet would allow. Dealt to a Gunnera clump that I'd missed.
More Gunnera Cleaned Up
Came inside, showered and warmed up my feet, to be told by Non-Gardening Partner that I'm mad. Well, mad I may be, but at least I am not boring. And I do stuff. Good news - found my favourite sharp spade submerged in the soil. Oops. No idea how long it had been there.
White Daisy
An added incentive - my lists include new plants to buy, to fill in the gaps. Still have voucher money left to spend from the end of last year. Like it to last as long as possible.
Monday 7th July
Two music rehearsals, both of which went very well, then I zoomed home to continue my clean-up. Spent nearly three hours outside in the cold, collected and dumped six barrow loads of mess.
Chopped down all the leaves of one Phormium tenax, then stood in the water with the axe. Alas - I couldn't really get near the roots. Did my best. Will be back!