Is anyone else counting down to the shortest day rather than Christmas? For us December is a month full of family birthdays with Christmas coming second to those, but one of the most exciting days for me is December 22nd , when the days start getting longer. For so many, looking into the garden they just see plants dying back but there is no greater joy than looking closer and seeing all the life that happening at ground level or as buds on trees, it gives such hope as to what is to come in a few weeks’ time.
I have had a busy few weeks leaf clearing in clients gardens, where I can I am trying to encourage some decaying matter to be left for the wildlife and I’m absolutely loving the structure in my garden from all of the plants that haven’t been cut back. I have strulched my more tender plants such as the salvia’s and agapanthus to give them some winter protection as well as attempting to take cuttings of my salvia Hadspans. These gave the garden such a late burst of colour in autumn I shall be trying to add more to the garden next year.
Today I managed to enjoy a few hours in the garden emptying the pots on the patio. With Agastache as the focal plants throughout the summer I have enjoyed the seed heads for structure over the last few months. You can see next year’s growth has already started so I have potted these and some trailing verbena up and put them in the cold frame for the winter in the hope that they can be planted out next spring.
The neighbouring garden has recently had a load of trees removed, it will be interesting to see how this affects bird numbers in the garden next year. It currently feels like we have a lot less birds in the garden so I am making sure I keep the feeders clean and topped up in the hope we can entice them back. We are missing the Peckish suet pellets that the birds loved so much so I found a kilo bag of pellets that looked similar in Longacres last week so those went straight into the garden to be enjoyed.
Whilst at Longacres getting our Christmas tree, you couldn’t help but feel festive. After the snow earlier on in the week covering the Christmas decorations there was a buzz in the air. So many Christmas gift ideas for family and friends and I particularly liked the paperwhites and I couldn’t help but pick up an orchid to add some colour to the house. A variety with smaller flowers I just couldn’t resist.
I do find I get to autumn and my enthusiasm for gardening wanes somewhat. After such a busy year in my garden and my clients gardens I’m pretty over gardening by November. Still having clients that need work done is a great motivation for me to get outdoors. Always having been someone who would be happy to hibernate for the winter, going to work is a great boost to get me outdoors and I do enjoy it once out there, the soil is still warm at this time of year and this makes a huge difference. Over the last few years I’ve built up my gardening wardrobe to cater for all weathers, and unless it is torrential rain I’m out in most weather. Having the right gloves can make a huge difference and the thermal gloves work a treat. Finding the motivation in my own garden is a juggle of being at home, having the time and right weather to entice me out there, plus the lack of daylight hours in the day. I find it such a boost for my mental health to spend time in the garden and at Longacres to see plants on sale ready for the spring, the primroses, hyacinths, primulas and even some campanula’s in store just couldn’t help but make me smile. Accompanied by a robin singing his heart out, I could happily while away hours there and start looking ahead to next year in the garden.
Of course once there, who can resist the Christmas decorations, and I can’t help but love my new Christmas lights, although like the star I bought a few years ago I have a feeling these won’t be going up in the loft in January….
Now to end the year I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and let’s look forward to those projects in the garden for 2022.
