The signs are good for 2021!
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s glad to be blown out of last year and into the new year for a healthy fresh start! And first there’s a messy soggy clear up underway. The once vibrant hosta leaves near the pond were not the most pleasant to deal with.
The London plane shed its last leaf and the seemingly tons of leaves have been deposited at the local recycling centre. The Ginkgo biloba is determined to hang on to its leaves and the resultant twilight golden glow has been perfection. Not as welcome, perhaps, was another golden glow, this time with fungi at the base of the amelanchier in the back garden. I don’t think it’s honey fungus but we’ll wait and see.
In between the showers I’ve managed to mow the lawn and trim the edge – it’s astonishing that such a simple task seems to lift the garden.
I’ve never lost that childlike thrill when a parcel is delivered, so the one containing the bare-root ‘Joan J’ raspberry plants was special; they’ve been planted at the side of the greenhouse and I can taste them already! Gardening’s ability to make you look forward should be bottled!
In the greenhouse, tender plants are on the staging with fleece at the ready in case of cold spells. As a little insurance, cuttings of the taller
succulents have been rooted and are now indoors, with some being passed on to our daughter to ensure survival. The only edible plants left in the greenhouse are a pot of salad greens. There’s no doubt the glass could do with a good clean, I’ll add it to the growing ‘to do’ list.
On the back patio, chrysanths stayed in full flower for ages so the move around to a more festive display had to wait a little longer; the standard hedgehog hollies with red bow and the twinkly lights were on standby well into December.
I’ve always loved this time of year. The nostalgia of seasonal holidays past and memories of loved ones no longer with us seems even more poignant than ever, but as I went down to the greenhouse one evening recently to tuck the plants in and say goodnight (yes, I know!) the dark clouds parted and the light shone through, hopefully a sign of good things for 2021.