Not much gardening to be done on the first day in December, you might think. But noted today how the shrubs cut back so drastically just a short while ago are already beginning to put put up new shoots.
The indomitable holly – reduced to little more than a pole – is already sending out new leaves!
Like wise the Quince and the shrub rose.
You don’t expect new growth so late in the season but it is so mild, with little sign of the cold winter that had been predicted back in September.
Less welcome? A plastic bottle thrown over the wall by some ghastly child. I make that assumption by the style and content of the bottle. I hate littering – and hate it even more when people litter my garden!
On better things…
The spider plant given me by my friend Misha is flowering well.
As are my selection of orchids, which, having finished flowering back in June, have been on holiday in the conservatory all summer. I have brought them indoors in case of frosts. I have nine orchid plants and had some of those for up to ten years. Most are showing flowers and/or flower spikes. Tip – they thrive on neglect! I water once a week (or even fortnight!)and feed every third watering.
Sadie lifts the lid on the creaking, stuttering, kettle to stare in at the scant half cup of water at its base. Flakes of beige limescale-confetti dance around the looped coil in a maelstrom of bubbles and steam, and as all motion ends there is a vague waft of electrical burning.
This morning we had a frost – second of the season – and more forecast later in the week so time to give my scented pelargoniums their annual scalping before being stashed in the conservatory for the winter.
One Lemon-scented plant
All are now safely trimmed and tucked away for the winter
