Garden Note #2

the aching muscle edition

I am sweeping the path, well I’m attempting to do this. It is smothered in weeds and so forth after a good session in the garden cleaning out a flower bed. The newly empty green waste bin is quickly filled. The broom e is missing bristles and I suspect will need replacing soon. I carry on regardless and some path is revealed after my efforts. It will require more tidying on another day, as I have run out of time. I look over the newly cleared flower bed half expecting there to be a mass of disruption from birds who have hunted out the newly placed compost searching for the worms that created it. Everything weirdly looks tidy a day after. I notice a bee or two on the newly planted master wort which is encouraging. I have picked the right plants for this space which is a satisfying feeling. I even have managed the before and after shot.

So what I have been doing? I have in a slightly planned unplanned way tackled a bed I imagined I was going to tidy and edit later on. I thought I would systematically work my around the garden but that approach soon vanished when I purchased some plants that would suit this space well. The bed in spring looks marvelous. It is filled with Auquilegia or Columbine or Granny’s Bonnet, in shades of lovely blue plus sages which harmonised well with the Auquilegia or Columbine or Granny’s Bonnet. However, as I look at the mass of green once this moment has past not a lot happens in this flower bed. There are some roses and newly planted sedum plus bee favorite echinops. So I decided it was time for an edit. What stayed are the sedum, the roses and the echinops. What was removed was the sages who for the most part have past their primes, the Auquilegia or Columbine or Granny’s Bonnet and some tarragon which while having a lovely leaf shape was too tall and not mixing well with others.

I has some foundations drifts of plants to work from. I move any echinops that have been randomly placed to follow form with others that are part of the bed. Combined, they stand centre in the bed, making in a way a spine with their height down the middle of the bed. A background to whatever is flowering either side. Intermingled are the sedums who are newly flowering. Bees are delighting in this no end. It was a treat to be working alongside them, sensing their gently actions and the odd buzz as I weeded away. I love that feeling of closeness. My collection of plants which I added to the bed included some deep crimson masterwort. I have some already in the lower part of the bed on the opposite side, so I was encouraging some similarity across the path. I love to see plants echo here and there. I also added a white scabiosa Alba and Russian Sage, a soft blue flower with a silvery leaf. I planned to add some more sage to mingle in with the sedum and echinops. I also added some perennial dwarf agastache in a vibrant pink tone.

While I worked I noticed the bees on everything I was adding which I always find encouraging. Atlee came and found a cool spot on the newly cleared soil before it is mulched. I love these moments so much. They are so quiet. I later felt a gentle ache in my muscles from doing work that felt familiar yet foreign - it has been a while since I have gardened like this. The bed now looks slightly foreign as well. Bare in places with the newly planted plants looking a little vulnerable. I hope they grow strong and intermingle, becoming the tapestry of a garden I love so much. I still have plenty of space to fill and I am sure over time I will quietly build on what I have so far. I am thinking some bulbs for delight in the spring. There will always be something I want to add to the garden and it is nice to have cleared space to do so.