There’s a mix of impatience and hope in January, impatience for the growing season to get underway but the hope that the mild weather will at least give way to a period of frost and cold so that overwintering pests might perish before they can begin their work of destruction again. If, like me, you don't use pesticides, a period of deep cleansing cold is a God-send.
I’m planning a bit of streamlining this year, with, perhaps, some more structural plants, so that the day to day maintenance is simplified. Problem is, I like lots of different things, can’t resist a bargain, can’t bear to leave a plant centre without a plant and like to hedge my bets with fillers in case something disappoints - there’s an impasse in there somewhere.
My snowdrops are up - not all of them, but quite a few, and I’m hoping the extras I put in last year “in the green” will perform. I know plenty of gardeners don’t bother with them because to an extent you need to venture out to look at, and look for them, but I love to photograph their unique and gem-like forms. Their lines are so simple and the white so pure - they are a private pleasure. The impossibly pink Hebe was still flowering on Christmas Day and continues to do so, albeit, sparsely. The fabulous tiny Irises seem oblivious of the wind and the rain, still standing straight, protected by their short stature. This robust Schizostylis (Kafir lilly) is still flowering and has been continually since last late summer/autumn. They are fantastic plants, they flower well, self seed, respond well to splitting and appear, at least from my experience, to suffer few, if any, pests - Bingo!
Being unable these days to shin up trees and wield a chainsaw I decided to search for a “tree surgeon” or at least a vague representation of one, to prune the apple trees which have grown too tall to manage, and to cut back the hawthorn hedge and deal with an out of control maple. The cost was a bit steep, but at least I managed to stipulate exactly what I wanted and avoided a “slash and burn” exercise which was my greatest fear. It’s hard to hand your garden to strangers even for a short time but I’m afraid it comes to everyone eventually and I wouldn’t rule out paying for a couple more heavy jobs before the season starts in earnest.
Have you done your Big Garden Bird Watch? - shame on you if you haven’t - I have! (just).
This cute little black-cap visits regularly (photographed through glass I’m afraid) it has a side-kick who also visits - it seems we are privileged to play host to birds that usually clear off for the winter. It’s good to know that our local gardens pass muster. The birds are so much more on view at this time of year so take time to watch them, they are a wonderful distraction from the rigours of daily life.
