No sun- no moon, No morn - No noon. Part 2
Sunday, December 2, 2012
It seems I have been here before - Oh yes I remember and that is
something these days! It was in June this year when the weather
wasn't that different from November give or take a few frosts.
Heavy rain, strong winds and the odd day of sunshine At least
you expect them at this time of year
Everything is soaking wet making it impossible to rake up the
remaining leaves and I daren't walk on the lawns for fear of
compacting them even more. The vegetable garden on a steep slope
has had standing water at times and it is dark by 4.30 most
evenings, severely limiting what work can be done outside.But there
are still things to cheer me up even in the darkest of days.
What cheers me up most of all is the winter firewood cut
and stacked under the verandah of the house as it has been for the
last 100 years - not all by me I hasten to add!!
But for something more exotic how about a private beach
on the Helford River in Cornwall last week?
Or for more Mediterranean tastes the upper garden
at Trebah (see Visits below)
Or finally closer to home impatiens niamniamensis
"Golden Cockatoo" (the cockatoo balsam) in the greenhouse at
Cilgwyn Lodge
Weather
Apart from snow we have had every weather condition encountered
in the UK in November. Towards the end of the month it became
increasingly colder with a minimum of -7C on the 28th. A few days
of sunny weather in the second week saw temperatures rise to 12C
- a very welcome brief interlude.
Mostly though as usual in November, the weather has
driven me bananas!
Garden update
The garden year is definitely at an end. A few plants are
hanging on bravely, an iberis or two, a few cyclamen hederifolium,
the odd lupin and just the glimmer of things to come, some cyclamen
coum showing colour in the bud and helleborus niger holding out the
chance of a "Christmas Rose" in flower for the big day. A rare
event but fingers crossed!
The faded husks of 2012 in the Paddock Garden not to be
cut back until February 2013.
Most of the work is in the polytunnels continuing to make space
for more plants under cover as the the colder weather comes. There
are still a few tomatoes left on the vines, the Rosada always the
last, are producing ripe tomatoes on the 13th truss. There
are also ripe sweet orange peppers and some chillis. Also in the
tunnels the cuttings of tender perennials taken during September
and October have struck well and are growing strongly on the hot
benches
On drier days I have had the opportunity to to repair or rebuild
the plant staging in the nursery which were showing the effect of
being weighed down with plants for a good number of years, a
pleasant task in the occasional weak sunshine. I have also rebuilt
the cold frame alongside the small polytunnel and removed the hedge
at the back of it.
A list of other essential jobs points to more work over the
forthcoming months. Lists keep me on track - but for some reason
however my lists of jobs to be done never match Moira's!!
One of the nicest jobs at this time of year is to start seed
ordering. The catelogues from seed companies and the lists from the
plant societies I belong to are arriving thick and fast and contain
all the joys to come for next year which certainly lifts the
spirits at a dark time of year. One of the most eagerly awaited and
usually the last, either just before of after Christmas. is the
mighty tome from Chiltern Seeds - an eagerly awaited annual
event.
What's looking good?
Well not much actually! Hardly surprising!! About 12 years ago
in a spell of mild winters I counted 27 plants/shrubs in flower in
early December; now you would have to look very hard to find 10.
The tunnels and greenhouse hold out the best hope with a heated,
protected environment. Streptocarpus just go on and on in a wide
range of forms, as do impatiens and pelargoniums. It is a wonderful
sight on a winters day
Streptocarpus "Harlequin Blue", haemanthus albiflos and
a white trailing pelargonium enjoying the hot bench in the one
greehouse we can afford to heat
And in one of the heated polytunnels a range of tender
plants providing winter cheer.
Leeks have enjoyed all the rain and are beautifully tender and
juicy. Cabbages although seemingly frozen in time as they haven't
grown much in November are holding smallish heads and sprouts are
showing the value of this long cropping winter stalwart.
A mention too must be made for the Autumn Bliss raspberries, the
last of which we harvested on 19 November, the latest we have ever
had them. Such a delight on breakfast cereal and a big saving when
those in supermarkets were retailing for £2 for a very small
punnet.
Wildlife and countryside
For once, although I am outside most days to observe nature at
first hand, there is little news. Still no fieldfares or redwings
which is worrying but the robins follow me around, always on the
lookout for some easy pickings. I have also seen the first dippers
for some time on the river, darting over and under the water; busy
little birds with a distinctive call. Just before dusk every day
whatever the weather, there is the Drama Queen Blackbird Show. lots
of fast low flying and high pitched alarm calls just before they
find a safe roost for the night. It is one of enduring and
endearing features of winter in the countryside.
Visits
Apart from the Masterclass Weekend there were just 2 talks in
November at Ferryside on the Towy estuary and in Llanelli at
Furnace Garden Clubs. Two well attended meetings at clubs which are
old favourites. It is always uplifting for a speaker to have a good
turn out and an audience that participates so well. It was a nice
way to end the talks year
Last week was my 65th birthday and to celebrate such a momentous
milestone we went to Cornwall. A visit has been long overdue and it
was great to be back in one of our favourite places from a long
list of contenders. Eden Project has matured incredibly in the 9
years since we have been there, but Trebah is a timeless garden
well over a hundred years old that ages gently like old wine. Even
with little colour left it has a presence, structure and sense of
permanence that few others can match.
The famous biomes at Eden
A little corner of the Mediterranen biome.
All this warmth means they have big bugs at
Eden!
Trebah only does refined good taste
And an outdoor "jungle experience.
Even some late hydrangea flowers in the 3 acre hydrangea
valley just before you arrive at the private beach shown at the
beginning of this news article. A real winter warmer. Damaging
frosts are almost unknown in this south facing ravine
garden.
Back at Cilgwyn Lodge,the bookings for visits next summer are
starting to come in already so if you would like to arrange a visit
during our opening times of June - September please get in
touch.
Finally I was a lucky "boy" for my birthday, Moira bought me the
Nikon compact camera I have wanted for some time and I am very well
pleased with it. Some of the pics in this news article are taken
with the old camera and some the new. See if you can tell the
difference. A liitle Christmas Quiz! Answers next month but sadly
no prizes save for the joy of reading these news articles!!