Monday 1 September 2014

Preparing......








Yesterday felt so good.

A day sorting out the garden.

As I've said many a time before here, I really am a pants gardener. We have a very small, and very manageable sized garden, yet I still struggle with it.

The sun unexpectedly came out......and I was encouraged to get things prepared for the onset of Autumn/Winter. Everything had pretty much all died off (I can just about manage spring and summer flowers but that's it.....zilch to take me into Autumn), so I thought it was as good a time as any to hack it all back.

This, sadly meant my adored rambling rose bush, that had been infected with black spot.

Whilst it gave a tremendous show of the hottest pink flowers this year (and I had spent years intricately  trailing it over my arbour and all over my decking); the size of the rose bush meant I just couldn't keep any control of the leaf drop, and it was reinfecting the soil. Oh it was sad. It was hacked back to a height that I could manage next year (I'm short, so barely nothing). It's its last chance. If I can't control it next year, then it goes. Boo hoo. At least I wont feel so bad though, getting rid of a smaller bush than a really huge one altogether.




There was a silver lining to this though. The hacking back revealed all the woodwork that needed a good old lick of paint. So that will be done over the next couple of weeks and it will be ready to take it into the autumn months.





The hydrangea heads are starting to dry off now. That lovely deep plum, mixed with subtle shades of forest and rust. I'll leave them on longer until all the colour drains from them. Finally, the bamboo was hacked back and the ivy clad fences were given a good hair cut. The beds were weeded and turned over.

It looks tidy....but oh so bare.

My neighbour said 'Oh no the lovely rose has gone!' She said it was such a lovely sight to look out upon in the mornings. Oh well. I will make it great again, whichever way I have to do it.

Pots were sorted and tidied, and I was feeling really rather chuffed.

So. The garden, stripped bare. Ready for the next couple of seasons ahead. It feels good to have spent some time there. That satisfaction that you have achieved something......something quite visible. It's quite uplifting. I needed that. Although my back isn't thanking me today. I'm such a wimp.




Thank you for all your comments on my last post. It's very comforting to know others feel as you do at times in their lives also.

I'm waiting patiently for the end of the week. I'm wanting silence for more than 30 seconds. It will be nice. It will be nice to have my kitchen back. It will be nice to have the cupboards closed, instead of continually seeing them open with a kid behind them grunting 'what is there to eat, I'm hungry'.

xxx

29 comments:

  1. Its such a shame that so many of your blog posts are so friggin depressing. Seriously every other post is "i need s break" or "i feel so down or dont know what to do". Ugh, i wish they would match your lovely photos. Damn depressing,

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  2. What's depressing about a blog post where I am happy I sorted out my garden? Makes me chuckle! Well yjk129, all I can say is......if you find me so 'friggin' depressing.......then don't 'friggin' read me! Simple!

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  3. Whenever I came to your blog, I feel always very peaceful...

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  4. Time in the bushes and leaves and dirt does a mind and body good. Glad you got to enjoy some time outside. You're right, too. It's very gratifying work. I hope your rose bush makes it! I was looking at your Harlequin blanket and thinking of starting one. It's so pretty and a little different than just squares. I think your instructions on your Ravelry page are sufficient so I won't need to buy a pattern. I'm going to use DK yarn because I think it looks so much better than with a thicker yarn. Sounds like you are feeling a little better about things and I'm glad to hear it.

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    1. Hi Pammy Sue, Oh I'd love to see it when it is finished! I've started another one too, but I've still got quite a way to go with it. I think there are some diagram instructions floating about on pinterest on how to make a diamond, or I'm sure you'd find one easily if you google it, as it's quite a straight forward one. Quick too which is always nice! Take care xxx

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  5. I am completely stunned by the rudeness of your first commenter Vanessa. And good for you replying.
    To balance it out I have never found any of your posts depressing, I just find it refreshing and honest that you share how you feel, good or bad, and I can always identify with much of what you say, as can your many followers and readers who love your blog and how you share with us.
    So glad you enjoyed the peace of working in the garden - so satisfying isnt it, when you're in the mood for it!
    Enjoy the rest of the week your family Vanessa, and then enjoy some "me" time!
    Gill xx

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    1. Ha ha, yes Gill, the first comment really gave me the giggles! I'd describe my August mood as thoughtful and reflective.......not deeply dark and depressive to the point of almost no return! It shows that they don't get me.....but that's okay, as many others do and share in these thoughts which is nice to know. It's a wonderful gift to have human compassion and empathy, but sadly, many lack it. Oh yes, I think I am done now with my stint in the garden, but it was very satisfying indeed!

      Take care xxx

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  6. I complete agree with gillyflower! My cupboards keep getting opened and my kid looking for something to eat, he's always hungry. But he's 26! Jane x

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    1. So there's no hope for me then with mine! There just seems to be no clear definition between breakfast, lunch and dinner! I don't know where it all goes either as they are all bean poles! xxx

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  7. Hi Vanessa, There's just something about the garden that's so levelling and therapeutic isn't there ? Theres also nothing better than feeling that you're getting sorted for the coming months. Have a great week, Kate xx

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    1. My garden is bare Kate! I have savaged it! But it's all ready now to go into the winter months and it's a nice feeling to know that it'll all be nice to start again with in Spring. I'm usually terrible and just leave everything, and then sort it out in spring.....so I'm well ahead of the game this year! ha ha! xxx

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  8. I really need to get out and tidy my garden, I feel the same about wanting it all neat and cut back ready for winter. I know my back will hate me for it but I must find the motivation! I really love your hydrangea photo, the sun looks beautiful in the image, enjoy your peace and quiet when it comes - I know what you mean :o)

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    1. Yes, it was such a nice feeling to get it all looking neat and tidy. I feel like I am one step ahead of myself this year with the garden, which is very unusual for me! xxx

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  9. Each spring the gardening tasks affect my back, too...
    I hope that soon enjoy 30 seconds of silence ...
    And soon I hope to see some of his work crochet ...
    I miss your beautiful works!
    Have a nice day, Vanessa!

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    1. I have plans to pick up the crochet once the Bears are back at school and I can restore order into my house! It will be nice to get my teeth into my projects again! xxx

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  10. Oh yes, the feeding of them is unending isn't it. While I'm washing up from one meal, they start hunting around for snacks, it drives me nuts. A shame about your rose, I do hope it's salvageable. I have a tiny one with black spot, I didn't realise all of the leaves needed to be cleared away to stop it spreading. I shall have at it with the secateurs tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your week Vanessa, peace will be descending here tomorrow too. CJ xx

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    1. I remember always being hungry when I got in from school when I was a kid, but I don't remember spending all day with my head stuck in the food cupboards! They are all bean poles too so I don't know where it all goes! Yes, I read that this is the cycle with black spot. The infected leaves drop off and fall to the ground and get mulched back into the soil. The spores then re-infect it, so that when it's windy or rains, then the spores infect the bush again and surrounding area. It's been a devil to try and control because my rose bush was so large. Come spring all the surrounding soil is being replaced and I'm hoping with the bush so small now I can control any infected leaves. This British weather has been awful for this sort of thing. xxx

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  11. Wow, I can't believe how rude that first comment was!! What a cheek! So glad you responded as you did :)

    I'm not a gardener either but when I do drag myself outside & do some, I do get an enormous sense of achievement afterwards & in the days and weeks following when I look at the garden, so I totally understand why some people love gardening so much. We'll done for getting so much done! Can't wait for school to start back too - my younger son is starting in reception!

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    1. I wonder if I could ever get into gardening. I do love a pretty looking garden, and I'd put the effort in if I thought I'd get good results. But sadly, I seem to have wasted a lot of money over the years for things to just die on me straight away! So I think, maybe when I have more time to devote to actually reading up on what to plant and how to care for it, I might put a bit more effort into it! ha ha! xxx

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  12. I hope your rose continues to do well. I understand being ready for the peace to descend, I was feeling that way a few weeks ago myself. We've been back to the normal routine for almost three weeks and I'm so happy. Everything seems more settled to me. I hope you have a good week and that the return to school is good for all of you.

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  13. Well, If it has to go, then I've done the hardest bit, chopping it all back to nothing, so I won't feel too bad about replacing it if I have to. I just wanted to give it one more chance as it was so pretty! Yes I think after the long summer holidays, just about everyone is glad to be getting back into a routine again! xxx

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  14. I hope that you enjoy your quiet time again, by the sounds of it you definitely will!! xx

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    1. Oh it'll be so nice to get a quiet 5 minutes! xxx

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  15. I feel the first comment may be a troll under a bridge :-) I love gardening, it earths me some how when I feel a bit down. Also your last post struck a cord, I feel like that a few times a year .... it passes but it is horrid when you feel like that. Take care x

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    1. I think the comment was supposed to shock, but it made me laugh! No skin off my nose. I think it creates a lovely sense of achievement, doing a bit of hard graft in a garden. Something quite concrete to see at the end of it. I just wish I had that enthusiasm with it all year round. I need to learn more about gardening to be better at it I think. I just don't really know anything.......and it shows! I think we often hit stages in our lives where several things collide all at once to make us reflective and ponder on life past and present. It's life. I'm looking forward to routine again though. As much as I like lazy mornings, after week 4 of the summer hols we are all ready for structure again! Take care xxx

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  16. Oh I do like to tidy the garden up for winter... well, I like the thought of it! Last year I thought I'd leave it for a spring tidy - thoughts of prettily frosted seed heads, snug homes for insects. Only it didn't really get tidied in the spring either and I've been struggling to keep this garden from reverting back to its natural field state all summer. I will do it!

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  17. Ah that's usually me, leaving it all until spring. It all just looks a bit sorry for itself going into autumn and winter looking bedraggled. I think that's why I was so happy. To have something looking so flipping neat and tidy for a change. It does all look very bare now though, but I'm sure I'll be very happy by the time spring comes that I've done a majority of it already! It might even prompt me to be enthusiastic with it next year! I think we all have years when we lose enthusiasm for it. I'd really neglected mine for several years, just doing the very, very basics to stop it from not even looking like a garden! It seems to have come back more this year though! I'm sure the mood will come back to you soon! xxx

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