The Pleasure Gardener

One of the topics that my gardening groups always like to talk about is plants that give a long period of interest.

And yet… Perhaps the thing we all value most in the garden is the appearance of fleeting treasures.

I have two very elderly cherry trees, both of them ‘Kanzan’, that great froth of frilly pink frou-frou so redolent of the ’50s.  It lightens your heart for about three days, and then casts itself at your feet in flowery death throes.

Likewise the tree peonies.  This one will come and go in the blink of an eye.

Would I be without them?  Not for a minute.

Speaking of peonies – one of mine is about to burst bud, and each bud has its own small party of excitable ants.

Why?  What are they doing?  They are only on the buds, and only on that particular plant, although the garden is a minefield of both red and black ants.  There is nothing else other than the swelling bud but the ants are running around, rubbing antennae, much too fast for the camera, in a state of high anticipation.

But ants or not, this will be another fleeting treasure, and all the more welcome for it.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Why did I start this blog?  Answers on a postcard, please…

I’m not good with journals and diaries, but here goes…  There are three reasons, I suppose.

1   I’m making over my garden, and it’s getting to be a journey of exploration and high adventure.  For example, last year, a well was discovered in the hedgerow.  Who knew?  This year the well is overflowing, what with all the rain.  I wonder whether hawthorn likes growing in a bog?  There are squirrels (grey: pitchfork, anyone?), rats (this rat poison costs a fortune!), partridges, pheasants, the neighbour’s cats and a brimstone butterfly.  Well, lots of other wildlife, and even a large selection of plants.

2  I teach gardening (hobbyist level only!).  I ought to share the disasters and triumphs (and even the asters and triumph tulips) with my friends and students.

3  I’ve been reading the Six on Saturday meme, and became inspired.

Here are the forget-me-not pools in the orchard.

Well, that’s my lunch break done.  Onwards and upwards with the bindweed…  Thanks for reading.