Must dash

A quick hello

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I was thinking we need a term for when we reach that moment in the garden where the spring growth is abundant, the to do list is huge, time is short and the number of seedlings ready to go into the garden are at an all time high. I am yet to come up with a whitty little phrase which encapsulates this moment and perhaps if I had more time I would try harder but whatever it is I am fully there. The garden is lush and beautiful at the moment and I am facing another busy week, where I am wishing I had more time to enjoy it. So this is a quick catch up this week. As I am off to the Garden Marlborough Festival I thought I would share some highlights of what I have observed in the garden at the moment plus a collection of ‘I was thinking of you” things:

• I’ve been out most days with the camera which along with getting in a few minutes in the garden, writing a few words are viewed as things I do to have a fabulous day. The ranunculus are on the wane and each day I step out with the camera I say to myself this will be the last run. Each day they give me something new.

• The table in the garden is covered in seedlings. I booted out all those that were inside. Some where ready. Some where leggy having embraced the indoor life a little too well. Others perhaps needed longer but I wanted my surfaces back. Will I regret this, no doubt, when I realise that a certain fave has not made it through the week but the time has come.

• The fox gloves are starting their attention grabbing romp in the garden and along with them comes bumble bees. I am delight to see the first generation of bumbles appearing, no bigger than my thumb nail. Seeing bumbles in the garden means there will be a nest which always delights my heart to know that others find my garden a good place to live in.

• As a follow up to last week, the swarm we caught in the garden is doing well (as it the lavender) and will be taking up permanent residence in the garden. We have pulled the crumbling green house down and will use that space to have a couple of extra hives in the garden which will be lovely. I do love the sound and life they bring to the garden.

• On the bee food front - the blossoms have finished while the rosemary is still trucking on. Borage, which self seed as and where it wishes, is flowering. I did manage to grow white borage from seed last year but I no luck this year. I miss it. Poppies are starting to flower and some of the thyme is flowering too. The sage which I have mass planted in a couple of beds is starting to burst forth, so in parts of the garden it is a sea of blue.

• I had planned on getting my dahlias in the ground but it will have to keep for another weekend but the roses are starting to show, namely the ones I didn’t get around to pruning. I’m also delighted to see the peonies are out and so mad in their shape and colour - I love them so much.

I was thinking of you when I saw these:

• I’ve had two books on the go at the moment that have a complementary theme which seems to be echoing how I wish to garden. Secret gardens of Aotearoa is a wonderful exploration of stunning New Zealand gardens. I love the narrative which focuses on the story of the gardener, garden and then the often new to me tips and tricks for garden projects. The other book Gardening in a changing World is like a history lesson in gardening from different perspectives which I found interesting and naturally I’ve found a few new gardening rabbit holes to go down. Both books highlight the importance of listening to the land in order to garden in a supportive creative way.

• There is a very beautiful and honest article by Farrah Storr on substack which explores how she navigating 45. So many things she wrote about resonated. It is very heartfelt.

• Whilst away and if I am at a loose end I fully intend to enjoy The Beth Chatto Symosium 2022 - Rewilding the mind, which you can watch on Youtube.

• A collection of images to offer inspiration. 20 images that I collected over the month of October. Enjoy.