My gardening diary
CHRISTMAS EVE
We’re spending some time this Christmas with Alice’s husband Ed’s family, who’ve rented a cottage at Lynton on the North Devon coast. Annie’s back from America, too, for a short while. The focus of everyone’s attention will be the new member of the family, Sydney, who’s just three months old.
CHRISTMAS DAY
Holly wreaths and greenery are all in place. Long before Christianity, people marked the winter solstice by collecting evergreens. They’ve always been a symbol of hope and of the continuity of life through the dark days of winter. It’s reassuring to have living green leaves around and the smell of pine needles must be one of the most evocative for all of us.
BOXING DAY
A chance to walk around the garden to look at what we’ve got to do. It’s more a question of making an inventory than an attempt to change anything. Always interesting, too, to compare this year to last.
THURSDAY
Time for some quiet repotting. There’s a pile of compost mixed on a board in the tunnel and one of our big metal potting benches (it was probably from an ammunition factory – good to see it’s change of use) is installed. Potting on euphorbias, sidalcea and loads of geraniums. When you get into the swing, the process becomes automatic and you get a chance to think about bigger things.
FRIDAY
Hoping for a pleasant trip to Marwood Hill Garden. This gem of a garden, tucked away in a valley on the way to Ilfracombe, has always been an inspiration to me and many thousands of gardeners. Malcolm Pharaoh, who has been there even longer than we’ve been here – though is now purportedly retired – is one of the most knowledgeable gardeners around and has taught me so much.
SATURDAY
Planting out primulas, the only survivors from hundreds of Barnhaven primroses we grew last year that were ravaged by vine weevil. Roots of any fibrous-rooted plants – heucheras, cyclamen and primulas seem susceptible to attack. Have considered using nematodes but they only seem effective in warmer weather.
SUNDAY
Time to think about New Year resolutions. Mine only ever seem to revolve around gardening. I’m going to keep in be er touch with gardening friends around the world and I’m going to grow more veg. One will nourish the soul and the other feed the body!
Carol Klein