Ready For the Off
01 January 2011 20:29:30
Ready For The Off
Yesterday bought a new wheelbarrow for the garden in anticipation of a good day weatherwise. Fairly mild so ideal for a day to continue the tidy up, I had started in November but the snow and frost put an end to that. First job was to fill up the feeders and then off to the poly tunnel to collect the garden tools was shocked to see the state of the place as there was compost scattered all over the shelving and bulbs unearthed. The shock turned to dismay as I started to tidy up, the Quail narcissi and Iris all seemed to be in the pots although they had been disturbed, but the 80 crocus had obviously become a New Years Eve dinner for some rodent not one bulb left, hollyhocks seedlings bit tattered looking and compost lying on top of other seedlings. Other plants that had been set on were Fran's Carex and sedum cuttings although there was no damage to the plants, luckily all the Glory of the Snow was on the table used as a work station so they've been left there. On examination a hole was found so tonight if they come back hopefully they'll enjoy there last supper. It was a delayed start to the clear up and I'm now wishing I'd planted the bulbs in the flower beds. Lots of dead mush cleared and a few weeds removed from the NW bed notice spring bulbs peeping up with lots of green shoots appearing on the perennial sweet pea both in the ground and pots. Have potted up some hardy geranium roots that became dislodged while cutting back some of the soggy foliage so quite a few plants in waiting in the tunnel and for get together swops. After lunch the beds along the front had the same treatment with the roses being pruned back as they were very blackened if they don't pick up they be for removal later in the spring work continued on round to the east gable bed some crocus and other spring flowers emerging but the bed looks so bare will have to make a plan to improve the planting in these beds for winter and early spring. Rose bushes here also got a severe pruning so they possibly are waiting on death row as well these roses were planted in 2007 and cost £10 for 4 so I won't be too upset if they go although one of them Covent Garden has the most fabulous red blooms. Won't get time in the garden till Monday, that's if weather permits with the focus on the bed along the terrace, temperature dropped here this evening just hope that it's only temporary.