Pruning – Gardens. Travel. Life.

Posted on February 22, 2019February 22, 2019 by happyretiredblog · 3 Comments

Warm days. Cold nights.

Well there’s still no sign of rain. Heavy downpours were forecast for Monday. Was I excited? You bet. Something I’d never have thought would get me so excited. Rain. So I didn’t water the new plants Why waste an expensive commodity when it was going to chuck it down for free. Cats and dogs. Wet rain.

But guess what? We didn’t even have a drop. Nothing. A heavy dew. But the only thing that was wet was my bottom as I sat on the chair to have my morning coffee.

The early mornings are chilly. As are the evenings. Late afternoon has been lovely and a great time to get out and do. Things have started to move with a vengeance. Not me obviously. That’s more snail like.

So I watered. Not a lot. The ground is still wet if you poke around a bit. It surprises me what I see for the first time when casually throwing a bit of water about. Like this Dietes grandiflora – fairy iris. I planted two at the end of the summer and there have been flowers on and off since. This is a new one I planted after Christmas and it’s flowering. Well. I say flowering = there is one flower and another in bud. But it’s a pretty little thing.

I’m cutting the oleander back a bit. It’s grown quite tall and I have cut some of it back quite hard. ( hacked actually). But it will grow back again quickly. Careful when pruning as it’s another poisonous plant. But one or two still had their glorious seed heads or is it pods? They are pretty gorgeous. Not every variety in the garden has them. I know not why.

Talking seed heads – here’s one on the Jacaranda. I have a love/hate relationship with this tree. It’s too large and needs to be cut back. Not by me. But a professional. But this season it’s not lost its leaves. So it hasn’t been done. It still has some of its seed heads on the tree and they are a bit spooky. Whilst I love both the seed head and the flowers it’s the flowers that drive me insane. Gorgeous blue colour. Which don’t last that long and end up all over the ground. I can spend hours sweeping the path – I know. I need the exercise.

I love a bit of scent in the garden. I’m a sucker for freesia and planted a load last year which were brilliant. Tall strong stems. Gorgeous colours and a brilliant perfume. I planted more this year and they are going great guns.

I found a large aspidistra down on the coast. Not literally but at the garden centre. They use these a lot in the inner courtyards so I thought I have a bit of a shady spot on the terrace. So I did. We stayed in a lovely hotel in Seville and they had them in their open area in the centre of the building. That got me hooked. I need to sort the pot.

We have had the big ferns in plastic pots. I’ve wanted to repot them but finding pots we both likes proved difficult. We found these and bought them. We then realised we needed two more. Off we trotted to the coast. Again. I said we had the light option. Ian said that we bought the darker. It was only yesterday he said. I know but the two colours aren’t miles apart. He said the darker. I said the lighter so we went for the lighter. Got them home and it was the darker. Never mind. They will do as I’m not going round the mountain once again. .

There are a number of succulents in the garden. No matter how many times I look up theirs names I can never remember what I’ve been told.

This is one – a pretty orange. Looks a bit like lipsticks. But they will open in the sun. But try and get a decent picture when they open. I tried. And failed.

The bank on the access road has a number of trees, last year I was having an afternoon cuppa with the neighbours and we looked up to see what looked like smoke. So off we went to investigate. It was the pollen on the plants being blown away by the wind. So no smoke. But hay fever instead.

The citron buddhas hand is still hanging in there. Literally. There are a fair few new flowers about to open. But the fruit hasn’t been setting on the older flowers. I need to consult my citrus book.

The alliums I planted are all coming through. The allium summer drummer is running away with itself. I’m glad I planted more this year. This isn’t summer drummer. It’s either a white or globe master. Or maybe it’s…. I know. I said I’d label better.

I love a bit of scent in the garden and I love jasmine. White. Perfumed. We also have a jasmine azoricum which has the sweetest scent.

Jasmine

It’s not been all gardening. Don’t ask. It’s been a bit of a week. But I managed to get out for a walk along the road close to la Casa. Some interesting things to see. I should do it more.

There is a lot of Daucs carota about in flowering season. Now the ones that remain have been dried and look fantastic.

There are almond trees along the road and are in various stages of bloom. Surprisingly some have almonds forming already. The three I have in our garden are still flowering. Nowhere near having any almonds form. I’m hoping this years crop is better than last.

Almond blossom

it’s interesting to see what’s about. These lovely stone walls are fantastic.

Sadly my crop of olives equalled one. Yes. One olive. Last year I had enough to make a few jars of salt cured olives. Well this year I can put the one single olive on a cocktail stick and saunter to the open fire to warm my cold bones. And eat my one olive.

There’s nothing like a bit of Mimosa. There are two or three types around us here. This was in a garden on my walk. Again a bit of flower envy as our mimosa is still In tight tight buds. But when it opens then bank will be awash with yellow. Another that needs pruning after flowering. It’s a straggly tree.

We have also been to the coast. Up and down the wiggly road. In Nerja there are fantastic agaves along the beach. With tall elegant flower spikes. Which a friend said that looked like giant asparagus. Another says they look rude. Whatever they look like they look magnificent.

I also have plant envy. So much I bought another one for the garden. A friend bought one for us back last year. It’s still alive. But not doing much. So I bought one for a bit of instant colour. That did well. But now it’s looking a bit sad. Not like this one in Nerja. This is the one that got me started.

There is still so much to so. Hacking the pomegranate for one. Tomorrow’s another day.

Posted on November 6, 2017November 6, 2017 by happyretiredblog · 8 Comments

Here comes the rain

Well I’m back. Not as Gary sang Back for good. But for two weeks. To be honest I’m approaching the last few days of this visit. And the rain that was forecast has arrived. With a vengeance. We drove into town last night in fog. Friends gripping the door handles as we drove along the bits of road where there is a sheer drop. A lovely supper and it was clear by the time we left but with thunder crashing in the distance and lightening cracking away. . We just managed to get the cushions off the garden furniture before the heavens opened and the storm hit the mountains. Boy. Did it rain. It persisted. All night. And was pretty torrential. Am I complaing? No. I have planted bulbs seeds and some plants this week!

I have also made a huge school boy error. I dont like gardening in gloves. Somehow i have rubbed my eye after planting and its swollen. I kook like I’ve done 5 rounds in a boxing ring which is stupid. I wouldn’t even get in the arena. A quick trip to the pharmacy. A bit of Spanglais as neither she or I spoke the others language and I had antiseptic eye drops. Lesson learnt? I doubt it.

In between visitors I have been cutting back, pruning, tidying. Unlike Somerset there is no real weeding to do. No ground elder. No Bindweed. But an enourmous amount of leaves from the fruit treees and fallen olives. The olive trees are heavy with olives. ( obviously) and I fear they will all go to waste.

I have taken the opportunity of tidying the bank. Climbing up and like a mountain goat. Well thats how our neighbour described my efforts. A bit of lopping here. A hedge cut. The access road to the house was once a dirt track, now thankfully concrete and easier to navigate. The bank on our side has some large trees.some scabby prickly pears and cactus bordered by a hedge and the smattering of oleander along the drive. I have scattered poppies on the bank. Let’s see what comes. I have struggled to get native Mediterranean wildflower seeds. But I’ll continue trying.

I have cut back the oleander from the gate to expose the two pillars that are there -if they are there why not show them! I have also been tidying the opposite bank behind the house and to the front. There are a couple of pines which are protected in Spain. Not that I’d want to.

I have cleared a lot of the pine needles so that any wildflowers that may be lurking in the ground have a chance to appear. But I now understand that the pine needles are a good mulch! A bit late as I have collected barrow loads of them. But I still have a barrow full.

I love seeing the garden at different times off the day as the light is so very different. Except the dark. It always looks the same. Dark. This was taken from the area where we park the car. Pines. Cactus. It’s a favourite of mine.

I’m yet to attack the roundabout – that piece of land we have across the road other than to cut the tips of the end of the agave leaves that were threatening to stab anyone that walked past. Not that many people do but like a Boy Scout you have to be prepared,

There are some pretty big agaves at the bottom and a number of baby ones growing. I need to dig the small ones and to replant. Something else to add to my list. At least this list is my doing and not the ones that Ian gives me. To be fair. I should say lists. There are three. Some are being reduced. Bit the attic is still to be tackled.

I have at long last – 5 months in – managed to cut the hedge, its been so hot that the growth has so far been slow but I was warned not to cut it in the heat. Or it may die. To be honest so would I if I’d tried in the heat of the summer. I needed little excuse not to cut it. We have a hedge cutter but the route from plug to hedge is a long one. Around the edge of the pool. Which I could see as a recipe for disaster for me. So I tried to get a cordless one. Hmm try getting a cordless anything here along with a string of garden solar lights. Total fail. So I ventured on, and managed with a bit of stretching and cursing to have cut it. Please don’t venture to the side on the bank. It’s not pretty. I have also trimmed a bit of height off the trees in front of the hedge. Thank goodness for the big lopper. The view to the coast is a bit clearer. Especially when I Put on my glasses.

The town had 24hrs of rain the week before I arrived and it shows. The drive up looked a bit greener. Flowers were back out in the garden. A bit of colour. This Brazilian sky flower has been constant all sunmner. Throw in a background of yellow and bingo. Colour.

We have a bourganvellia growing next to the garage. It hasnt done very much in terms of flowering despite my govong it a good talk to and some encouragement. But there is one on the bank. The dry bank. No water. No attention. Dry. Sunny. And blooming lovely. Framed by the fig and the Nespera.

Talking of which the two trees that we have on the bank are flowering. They also have a nice scent. I was pretty surprised to see the flowers as i thought it a bit early. But apparently not. I’m hoping for some healthy fruit next year. Which no doubt will all come at the same time. Like the figs.

I thought that we had little or no fruit on the pineapple guava. But once again I’m proved wrong. Apparently they are ripen when they drop. So I have been collecting some every day. I like the taste. One of my visitors said they tasted like wait for it. Germolene. I hated the smell of that growing up. Along with TCP. I once worked with someone who I swear used TCP as an after shave.

The rest of the fruit is doing well. The oranges are ripening. Again I thought we may lose the trees in this years extreme heat. But there will be some ready for Xmas. There are two pink grapefruit. Still there. Still getting fatter.

An unknown fruit – maybe a sloe.

The 5 quinces remain and are getting uglier by the day. If I have time I will make that quince jelly I’ve been meaning to make. For ages. I think I’m being told to do it. One big fat quince has dropped to the ground.

The succulents are doing well. There are small ones appearing everywhere. I need to move some of them as they are in the wrong places.

I have moved the two cactus. I know that they are Euphorbium but Ian bought them as he wanted cactus. And they do look greatagainst the White wall of the house. .

You can tell we have had rain. These have suddenly unfurled from the tight coisednuo balls they were on our last trip. Looking glorious and majestic in the border. Not likethe aliens they looked like before.

I’m seeing new cactus I haven’t noticed before.

A view of the border at the back of the house. It’s pretty steep.

All of a sudden there are plants appearing in the garden. That’s the joy of a new garden. You never know until you get to the end of the first year what you will find.

I’m very excited with the bird of paradise plants. We had some flowers in the summer but they seem to have gone mad.

There are a number scattered around the garden. One in a pot. Most have their Autumn flower spikes. The one at the side of the house strategically placed outside the bathroom window has theee large flower spikes forming. The one in the pot has three as well. And the ones in the flower bed have another three between them. To be honest. I wasn’t expecting that. But they are fab.

The good old lantana continues in the rear bed to give some welcome colour. The one in a pot had suffered a bit but has been cut right back and is sprouting new growth already. I have a policy of hack back and wish for the best. If it works. Bingo if not then there’s a shopping opportunity. Talking of which.

I called into the garden centre last week on my way into Malaga. . And ordered a load of plants for collecting later in the week. Which I did. And filled the car. Can’t you tell Ian wasn’t here. He would have said ‘do you need all of those plants’. Yes. I do. And more.

Some new lavender. Verbascum. Plectranthus. A plant whose leaves and flowers smell like popcorn. It really does. Senna didymobotrya. Oh and like so many of the Mediterranean plants is poisonous. Probably that’s what I rubbed into my eye!

I have cut back some of the lavender not being brave enough to do it all. I have replanted some slightly lower on one side of the bed so the lights to the gates shine a bit brighter for now. Yes I know. I should have taken the hose away to get the perfect picture. But it’s not perfect. The garden the blog the pictures are all a work in progress!!

There is still plenty to do. But it hasn’t all been gardening. We have had friends staying. Which means trips out. To the Alhambra. To the coast. To eat.

We made our third visit to the Alhambra

The gardens are going over but there is still some great colour.

Oh. It’s November. The mornings are chilly admittedly. But when the suns out it’s glorious. So you need a trip to the coast. And we made a few. Nerja. Torre de Mar. For lunch. For a walk.

Trips to the Coast – Nerja & Torre Del Mar

So Ian and the visitors leave today. I have one full day left on my own in the garden. To move the prunings from the pomegranate. The lavender. To plant the rest of the alliums. To go collect the tulips I have ordered for the pots. Ready to be planted on the next visit. To hide them in the fridge from Ian to give them a cold snap before I plant.

It’s getting colder. We had our first log fire in the new house on Saturday I’m sure there will be more when I’m back. In 12 days time!

Posted on November 1, 2017November 1, 2017 by happyretiredblog · 5 Comments

Casa Verano Eterno 6 months in

Has it only been 8 months since we viewed the house and 6 months since we collected keys and started this new adventure. Yea. It is. And so far what an adventure. Has it been worth it? Do bears …….

I have photographed. I have blogged. Wittered. . Instagrammed. Rambled on. And on. But I’m still not bored. You may be. I’m not. Asked how it’s going i smile and simply say fantastic. Because it is. And I absolutely love it.

We’ve had visitors. A lot of visitors. Which I love. We have more coming this month. Our friend from Somerset. My London neighbours – friends for nearly 30 years. Friends have been with the boys. Who spent the whole week in the pool- the pool I never wanted. Which is in the garden I didn’t want. I wanted a townhouse. With a terrace. No pool. No garden. In the town. Which isn’t what we found. The moment I walked through the gate my mind was changed. Instantly. Because of the garden.

The garden is a challenge. We are not there all the time. I worry, but I would worry if there was nothing to worry about. I worry about the watering. About losing plants. About planting. But that’s all part of the challenge. The garden will change. Will adapt to the way we can use it. For now anyway. The plants are largely drought tolerant but the weather has been hot. Even for Spain, so its been an interesting time to take over an already established garden with Succulents. Palms. Bird of paradise. Agapanthus. Plants I know. Others I don’t so I have to reach out to my twitter gurus for help. And they never let me down. The watering system works ok. And when it doesn’t it gets fixed.

We are slowly getting things together. Realising what we need. What we don’t need. Where to eat. Where to shop. The town has a great square. You can find me there often. For breakfast. For lunch. For dinner. My place of choice. Casa Paco

My Spanish is still pants. Ian can hold a conversation – he’s getting on great guns. I’m thinking of a crash course. I get by and do try. I haven’t embarrassed myself too much. But even Ian with his progress can get it wrong sometimes. He ordered a roast polish person at our favourite restaurant recently. Thankfully. It wasn’t on the menu.

The ground is still rock solid. I need to plant the alliums which have arrived from Peter Nyssen. A big box of lovliness delivered diret to Spain, How convenient is that!

I’m looking for some wildflower seed to scatter on the bank behind and in front of the house, I want to have an explosion of colour in the spring and early summer. Having cut back the banks for the first time in 6 years I’m hoping there will be some wild flowers there already.

I have tulips from our local nursery to collect and plant in pots for the front of the house and the terrace. I have ordered Brown Sugar again this year. They were simply gorgeous last year in London. And Somerset. . I have a hedge to cut which I have left all summer as I didn’t want to kill it. I may just have to do some acrobatic movements to cut parts. Parts of the hedge. Not my body parts. I hope not anyway.

So my next visit – next week will be a busy one. Rain is forecast for two days this week but I suspect not enough to be able to plant easily. I don’t like bulb planting at the best of times. Its backbreaking and my bones creak as it is, but at least it will still be warm. And dry. Oh. And try getting a bulb planter in Spain. A long handled one that will get through concrete soil.

Another challemge is pruning. What and when and how. We have a couple of pomegrante in the garden. Apparently they haven’t fruited ever, so they may be ornamental. But ornamental fruit in a large garden. Why? But our neighbours have some which do. Fruit. I have pomegranate envy. Who would have thought that 6 months ago I would be thinking of fruit like this. Admittedly the neighbours have small fruits but fruit never the less, I want them too. But then I want everything. And now.

There are a couple of figs with delicous black figs. Its a shame that they all ripen at the same time! There are only so many you can eat. For many reasons. There are a couple of loquats, whch again have a short season for fruit oh and not forgetting the Almond trees – none of which I have any experience of. I need to read up on Plumbago, jacaranda,lantana and bougainvillea. And on citrus. On palms. On yucca.

I don’t want to prune and then find I have no flowers or fruit next year as the plant flowers on the previous seasons growth. Fatal error…

I need to realise – oh and accept – I can’t grow all the lovely things I curerntly grow in the Uk, but have to adapt to a new Mediterranean planting. As I said. I want it all. I’m surprised at how well I have coped with change.

I’m going to be bold with the lavender path. Its gorgeous but has become a bit straggly in parts. So I have seen people recommend a hard cut back provided there is some new growth. I did two before I left last time and planted two new ones as well so I will see how they have fared. If it doesn’t work then I will replant the path.

We need to decide on the Prickly pears.

They have been ravaged again this year with cochineal fly. I have saved one by washing it down and removing the fly before they can take hold. but the ones on the bank are sad. They were all cut back two years ago in what sounds like a sceme from a horror movie. The red of the cochineal getting everywhere. I think I will find a man that does! Because this man won’t.

It’s not all been gardening. There has been some leisure time. A sit on the terrace. A drive down the wiggly or windy road – there are two options takes us to the coast. I’m not a great lover of laying on the beach soaking up the sun getting sand in places I can no longer reach. I get bored easily. But the coastline is gorgeous and we haven’t really explored it much. Nerja is a short drive away.

In the other direction Torre Del Mar. Both very different. Except for the weather. And people on the sun loungers. All lined up in rows. As the sun moves so do the loungers. Except at 1.30 there is a mass exodus of people. To the little bars serving sardines being cooked on the beach.

So I forgot that this blog was sitting waiting to post. I’m now here. And it rained last week. One set of visitors have been and gone. I’m waiting for the next and for Ian. There has been planting. Excursions. But I can’t stop. I have plants to collect. But don’t tell Ian.

Posted on August 7, 2017August 7, 2017 by happyretiredblog · 3 Comments

Weeds. Weeds. And more weeds.

No it wasnt funny the first time said Ian. A grown man standing in the garden. Squeaking. Weed. Weed. I guess he’s too young to remember watch with mother. Bill and Ben the flowerpot men. With Weed . Behind the potting shed. Which looks nothing like the lovely potting shed of Karen Gimson. She knows I have potting shed envy. That I’m going to move into hers.

Anyway. As usual I thought it was funny. Obviously not. But I was here to weed.

Having bought our new Spanish house and having a new garden to manage and with spending more time there the garden in Somerset has been a bit neglected. Ooh. A lot of ands there.

It hasn’t helped that we have had sun. Rain. Sun. Sun. Rain. So the garden has grown. You can watch it grow. From the dryness of inside the kitchen window. Plants are taller. The weeds stronger. I maintain I have the national collection of bindweed. Hideous weed. The plant. Not the Bill and Ben character.

I’ve tried for weeks to get to the cottage. But every time I have a day or two it rains. It pours. Horizontal rain. Wind.Great British Summer. I’m a wimp. I’m a fair weather gardener. Don’t judge me. You know who I mean!

It’s sad to see that the garden isn’t as pristine as I usually have it. Pristine is the wrong word. It’s not a show garden. I’m not a gardener. I garden for me. I grow what I like. Where I like. But I usually have more time. The grass had been cut but there was work to be done. But yes. There were some lovely plants in bud. In flower. Seedheads. New beginnings.

The roses I pruned with Sara Venn earlier in the year were budding like crazy. The second flush of flowers coming through now. I had a great day with Sara and she taught me a lot about pruning fruit trees. Maybe I can persuade her to come to spain!

The apple tree we pruned is loaded with fruit. The best I’ve seen in years. We were a bit ( I say we – Sara ) worried about the tree with the red apples. But it’s done amazingly well. Some have been picked and brought home. The tree was supposed to be a Laxton superb. My mothers favourite apple. You can’t beat a laxtons she used to say. Well someone has beaten me. This ain’t laxtons superb.

Everyone knows I like a dahlia or two and I planted a couple of new ones this year – well more than a couple to be fair.

Bought and planted. Before I knew we would hopefully be on the move. Two have flowered beautifully. But. Hello. Cafe au lait where are you hiding? Not under the bindweed. Surely not. I first saw cafe au lait at Georgie Newberry’s Common Farm Flowers And fell in love with it. I have had so many suggestions over the last year for new dahlias I can’t keep up.

The dahlia bed was doing ok. The tubers I had left in had come through. Beaten off the slugs – and a couple were blooming lovely. Black Jack. Rip city. A couple of bishops.

There’s a couple of things I’m rubbish at. – gardening things. Staking is one. Always on my list. Rarely crossed off. Remembering when the plants get straggly. Or there is wind. The other. Labelling. I have had the intention of a plan. Labelling the plants. Putting them down on paper. A proper plan. So I don’t forget the names. It was a plan. But 23 years later it’s still a plan. I’m trying not to make the same mistake in Spain. I’ll tell you how I get on. In 23 years time

But thankfully I have the invoice still from Withypitts so have identified Peach Delight and Shooting Star.

The bees havent deserted me. The Echinops all a buzz. Two for the price of one.

The weeds are bad. So bad that I have a helper. Quite how Ian has decided to help I don’t know. Obviously there is no tennis on the TV But he has. I might have to turn a blind eye at his technique and the odd pull of a plant that is not a weed. Today he’s keen. Carry on regardless.

It’s amazing. Often there are plants which run away with themselves. This is one. I swear that this year it’s two foot taller than usual. I like them. Great for cutting but boy are they invasive or what!

The monbretia. Yes I know it’s all crocisima now. But my parents called it Monbretia and old habits die hard. This clump has never previously flowered. I mentioned it last year and moaned about it. Someone said that they always flower. This year the clump is flowering. Like crazy. Have indeed me anything different. No. Not that I can think of.

I planted an Emily McKenzie and it’s in bud. I’ll miss the flowers this year as I am away again.

The garden photographs well. Looks good. Even if I say so myself. But please don’t look too closely. Bindweed and groundelder are everywhere.

We have a grape vine at the back of the house. It catches the sun. But I thought that this year we had no grapes. They aren’t sweet and last year for the first year I picked them. Ate one. Even sourer than me. So I made grape and Rosemary jelly. Went down a bomb. So I started to hack the growth back – full of horticultural technique me – and lo and behold hiding under the growth were bunch after bunch of grapes. Larger than last year and hopefully with some Aug sun ( please ) they will get fatter and juicier. Chateau Pitcombe if wont be. But good old grape and Rosemary jelly again. And again.

Rhubarb. Not picked for ages. So I have. No need to force this rhubarb. Looks like I’d need to force it to stop. There will be rhubarb gin and rhubarb and star anise cordial. Some for next door for a crumble. The gin to add to the sloe gin supply gently brewing in the kitchen cupboard.

The poppies are over for another year. The seed heads are drying ready to explode and sow themselves for another year.

So now I ache. My back. My arms. I’m weeded out. But do you know what. Give it another three weeks and on my next trip and I’ll be doing it all over again. Whether I want to or not.

Posted on February 28, 2017February 28, 2017 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

Roses and a day with Sara Venn

I’ve said it before. I got into gardening through my parents. They loved their garden and it was something they were proud of. Loved the attention when in full bloom. For years had borders full of roses. Gorgeous scented beautiful roses. Mum picked some. But not a lot if my memory serves me right. I recall her deadheading them. Every time she walked up and down the front path. She was obsessed with deadheading. No bad thing really. Dad did the planting. The pruning. Mum admired. And bought more.

I spent a day with Sara Venn last week in our garden in Somerset. The person who looked after our garden had sacked us the year before – yes we were sacked. Long story . A very long story and since I had retired ( early – keep repeating it Andrew) I had been doing the work myself. With some success. What I didn’t know I asked. But I was worried about pruning. The roses. The fruit trees. Some of the shrubs. But the Roses. I could hear my mother tutting. A lot. Her saying. ‘Your not like your father’ He would have pruned them all. On time. And properly. She said that a lot. ‘ your not like your father’.

Last year we were due to start an extension so I didn’t prune the roses. When the schedule was moved it was too late. Sara said. Leave them this year. We had roses. But not as good as in previous years. We were supposed to start the extension in the Autumn. And then the Winter. I could put it off no longer. If I had to dig them up later so be it.

Sara agreed to come and spend a day with me in the garden to give me advice on how and what and when. But it was more than that. It was the push I needed to get going again. I’d been in limbo with the garden. Would I have another year of the flower beds?. Should I move things. Should I wait. Should I extend the beds? Was this space the right one for my new greenhouse? Don’t mention the greenhouse to Sara. Please. Don’t mention my greenhouse.

So Sara arrived and we set to work. Talk of a practical. It was practical. Practically exhausted by the end of the day. Talk of a hard task master who encouraged me up a wobbly ladder – no elf and safety in this garden. But it was fun. Practical. Encouraging. And confidence boosting. I hadn’t made a total hash of the garden this last year.

I always say I garden. I’m not a gardener. The garden is well established. We’ve been here 22 years. But I am rubbish at staking. I don’t plant deep enough. But I’m getting there. Slowly. Like my train journey this week accompanied by Doris.

It hadn’t mattered I’d not pruned. The fruit trees were ok. Ish. The roses leggy but not dead. So We pruned. Cut back. Laughed. I fought with the rose prunings. They won and it didn’t matter I wore gloves. They just went for the jugular. We tidied up. Had tea and cake. She gave encouragement. Orders. Ate my cake. Took one home for Mr Venn. As promised.

To be fair if we were being filmed it would have been more ‘Carry on Gardening’! Than big dreams – It was gardening made fun. ‘What do you think you are doing!’ was said a lot. And do you think you can wobble less’ what said I? As in walking or up the ladder? Both!

The roses don’t look like this now obviously but now have had a severe short back and sides. A proper job. Like my Dad would do!

Thinkimg of my parents garden got me thinking of their roses again All were bought in Woolworths when Woolworths had a gardening department. All grew well. Flowered strongly. From the department at the rear of the store. Memory is a wonderful thing. Before mum lost hers she could tell you the names of the roses. Each one. Not from the label. So I want some new roses. I looked up to see if I could get the named roses from their 1970’s and 80’s garden as I’d like to have a few. Josephine and Ernest were therir names so I may start there. Along with Superstar. That was my favourite.

Who knew Woolworths won not one but five RHS Chelsea golds! I didn’t.

Woolworths history
Superstar; Iceberg; Ena Harkness; Blue Moon ! ; Peace; queen Elizabeth ;Just Joey; Josephine Bruce; Ernest Morse. fragrant Cloud; the Fairy. Compassion

Those are ones I remember. None of that David Austin stuff for them. It was the wonder of Woolies !