During the Winter and well into Spring I admit to having neglected my garden. Horribly. I would peer guiltily out of the window whilst dashing about the kitchen making small dinners and washing up. The filthy cold temperatures got between me and the soil. I’m afraid to admit it but I’ve realised that I’m a fair weather gardener.
There were crispy bits, weedy bits and bits that were, frankly, returning to nature under piles of leaves. My garden is usually a little wild and woolly round the edges and I like it that way but there are limits. The thought of tackling it was daunting and I procrastinated. I used the incessant cold and rain as an excuse. I would surely catch a dreadful ague if I went out there. Yes. It would be dangerous. Meanwhile the ground elder became triffid-like and began to take over.
Then I rationalised it. I would never transform it into a Chelsea gold medal-winner but I did need to save my Knautia from being strangled and it would be good to be able to enjoy a cup of tea in the sunshine, if it ever arrived. I went to buy a new garden fork and a pair of floral gauntlets on sale and began. I reckoned that four or five half-hour sessions would bring it back to a state in which it would be pleasant to sit in again. Whilst I swept up leaves, hacked at bindweed and realised that the winter had killed off my Echinacea it was hard to imagine wanting to spend time out there.
Slowly I dug up more ground elder than the Romans would have known what to do with (they ate it, apparently). I cleaned out the sandpit. Then, as the sun began to appear for brief periods and we had glimpses of Spring-like weather I realised that I was beginning to look forward to getting into the garden. What’s more I prepared and sowed my very first small cutting patch in an area where a birch tree used to be. It only has five or six seed varieties but the other day I identified my first Ammi majus seedling. I may have squealed a bit.
Those aren’t weeds, honest.
The tiny new plants are even inspiring new ideas. I’m working on a design for a little seedling necklace.
At the moment I’m spending a little time outside every day to water, weed and sit awhile. The little ones are too – yesterday I found the dog fast asleep in the sun, draped rather fetchingly with rhubarb leaves. A few nights ago I even sat in my deckchair and crocheted. My garden and I are friends again. Phew.
You garden looks beautiful and very inviting!
Well done – as a hayfever sufferer, even a summer garden isn't really a friend of mine! I like looking at them, but from inside!
It's looking fab!
I'm feeling the same … back in love with my garden 🙂
xx
Your garden is beautiful Emma. Those last little flowers look just like your little silver flowers!
Emma, that lingering wintry weather would have put me off having any gardening motivation. It certainly seems from your photos and very amusing reportage that you are now fully back into gardening mode. Bravo!
I'm sure that being close up to all that natural beauty is giving you daily inspiration for new designs. It's going to be fun to see them.
Meanwhile…do enjoy an hour or two relaxing outdoors as summer arrives.
xo
Isn't it great just being able to get outside again!
V x
It's looking lovely and I look forward to seeing the seedling necklace when complete! Julie x
Oh it's all looking so lovely and inviting, Emma! All your work is certainly paying off. Isn't lovely to be able to sit and crochet in such a pleasant place? (and your new sweet pea wigwams look fab!)
Your garden looks lovely, I love this time of your when the balance flips to outside living again. So good to be able to sit outside for some alfresco crochet time, I managed some too, earlier in the week.
Clare :0)
http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/outside-living.html
Gardens are indeed wonderful when they're under control! Yours looks absolutely beautiful.
It doesn't take long, once you have made the first effort. It looks good already. Well done!
Love your garden and your photos are wonderful x
Just a bit at a time, that's my motto! I had lots of ground elder too but I weeded and weeded it out last year, hardly any this year….you'll get there in the end. A little bit wild is great for the bees and insects so don't stress, enjoy! 🙂 x
Hi Emma,
Happy to hear you found your love for gardening back :-). It's such a source of inspiration! Looking forward to see how your cutting patch will grow and your necklace will look like!
Have a great time outdoors 🙂
Madelief x
It looks very pretty 🙂
It's amazing how a little bit of sun changes our perspective isn't it!
Your garden is looking lovely – it makes the effort worthwhile doesn't it. I lost all my echinacea plants too – such a shame as I had about 6 plants, all different varieties that I'd collected over the years. Not cheap to replace either.
But that's gardening for you – always a WIP!
Hope you enjoy the sunshine and sitting and admiring your garden. x
Pretty, pretty! I pulled out some of the evil creeping buttercup from mine yesterday and will do more later on. Have concluded it will never be "done" but it just needs to be at a point where we can sit in it for a while without shuddering.
You have a very pretty garden, I always like when you post photos of it. Mine is a little neglected too, just busy with other things, hopefully after this weekend I'll get some more time to tidy it up a little.
oh gorgeous, your garden is just lovely x
Now that you have conquered your ground elder can you come and sort out mine? Purleeeeze?
Yep, same here. This year I can look at my back border and think "yes!" It is finally looking how I want – full and lush.
Hooray for making friends with your garden and it is looking beautiful, I am tackling ours this weekend, we have had building work for two years so it needs a lot of loving care, it is quite little though so I am hoping a weekend will sort it out! – Annie
Yours is one of those gardens like the one himselfs grandmother had and how I try to run mine… pretty, low maintenance ie. if it looks pretty, leave it be and we are not constantly fussing about if it is all perfectly in its place but love to tinker when the time is right.
Beautiful 🙂
Your garden's gorgeous.. I like your idea of chopping the required time into half hour sessions. Smart thinking.
Beautiful, I am not surprised your garden gives you inspiration for your designs.
Hey there's nothing wrong with being a fair weather gardener I am one myself and your garden just looks fab great pictures and lovely plants
Don't feel guilty it looks like a wonderful place to sit and pass the time of day.
Lovely to be able to go out every day now and do a bit of pottering. Your garden does look lovely!
even woolly and wild your garden has some lovely plants and flowers. I could use a few Romans here to eat my elder too, still pulling it up!
You have a lovely garden!
It looks like such a lovely garden. Sorry to hear your Ecchinacea had been killed off. It was a hard winter this winter wasn't it? x