An absent gardener, a good dose of rain and a few very hot, summery days and we have ground covers that are running rampant, shrubs are growing at breakneck speed, a standard rose produced two massive suckers from the root stem, annuals are in need of dead heading, slugs and snails have taken up residence in the lily and rose beds again, coriander and basil have bolted, crawlies have devoured the cabbages, something has attacked the Gardenias, weeds are going crazy … and the list goes on. After being away for two weeks and having a few other things on my mind both before and after, my garden has been neglected for the last four weeks.
It is time for me to get back into the garden, to reconnect with the earth and hopefully, digging in the dirt will be therapeutic and good for the soul …
The mess I’m in …
[one_half]Shrubs need pruning
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[one_half_last]Seedlings need attention
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[one_half]What’s happening here?
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[one_half_last]Annuals need dead-heading
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[one_half]This is pretty, a field of Lilies
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[one_half_last]More goodness, cherry tomatoes
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[one_half]We also want attention!
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[one_half_last]Oh dear! What ate the cabbage?
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[one_half]Oh … another surprise!
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[one_half_last]Lawn needs weeding!
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[one_half]Its a thug! Ground cover runs wild
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[one_half_last]Not just weeds, it needs mowing too
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[one_half]Yay! The Hydrangea is back!
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[one_half_last]But the tulips are gone
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Thats just a very small sample f what’s going on in my garden, so if I go quiet again, you’ll know what I’m doing … cleaning, planting, healing …
Happy Gardening
xxx
14 replies on “Back to the garden”
So 2 weeks of winter, 2 weeks of spring, and you’re into summer already? Crazy.
Coriander (cilantro) is the most frustrating herb for me because of the bolting, but so loved. I’m glad the seeds are useful too.
(Glad to see you’re back in the garden)
Hi Alan – Gardening is amazing therapy. I’m starting to feel semi-normal again.
Welcome home, Christine. No place like the garden to heal. Are those little Mexican feather grass seedlings? I remember you commenting during Spring how much you liked them! Yippee!
Hi Cat – Yes they are!! Mexican feather grass which I am so in love with, my Mom sent me the seeds from Germany and I’m patiently trying to grow them. Had a nice little growth spurt this week. 🙂
Just do the fun stuff.
Hugs…
Glad your back Christine, and for whatever reason I am sure you will find gardening very therapeutic. Your white Lilies look great, looks like Longiflorum and the leaves of your Ground cover runs wild gives the impression of a very special foliage plant if kept in check.
Also wanted to say you have wonderful new growth – cherry tomatoes and the Mexican feather grass! And hydrangea! 🙂
I think every garden is experiencing the same – my cabbage is being devoured (??) – so don’t feel that it is your neglect. I can’t keep up with my garden. My roses are looking terrible – aphids with straws slurping away 🙁 I have just mowed my lawn patch… so take heart and know that your garden still loves you!! 🙂
That is a lot of chores you have lined us, but it helps with the healing process for sure.
Absolutely! Its been very therapeutic. I feel moments of happiness again.
I wouldn’t call that a mess at all, parts of it look my garden…especially the seedlings that need thinning, and the cabbage too! I had to look closely but mine had some well camouflaged little green caterpillars going to town on the cabbage leaves. They almost destroyed the red cabbage. The chickens thought the caterpillars were tasty though 😉 It looks like your tomatoes off to a great start though. I need to pull my plants as they’re done for the season…maybe tomorrow…
Healing, yes. And as I write I hear the rain. Later we’ll get back to the pruning. Himself said it looks like a jungle, but I’m trying!
I rather revel in the lush green, when summer bites I’ll be back to the brownish effect again. Now we have roses, lots of lovely roses.
I agree that being in the garden is very therapeutic for me as well.
Hi Christine – if it’s any consolation, your garden after 4 weeks of neglect looks like normal business in my garden. Glad you’re back.