Foliage and Flower Surprises

February is full of foliage and flower surprises - a beautiful pale apple green hosta is only just in full leaf, and there are the deepest mauve flowers on some small hydrangeas. Red dahlias are blooming everywhere, the shrubby Lavateras are flowering, and the purple geranuim at the back of the woodshed is looking beautiful.

Purple Geranium

My new pond plantings (rhododendrons, camellias, an aralia and three gorgeous carex trifidas) seem happy. Pots of basil (both purple and green - beautiful colours) on the house patio are growing really well - thanks to many visits from the watering-can fairy.

Water Woes

Summer Pansies

Oh dear - I have much watering to do. Today I've had to put the hoses on near the Hump. I'm sad to see plants in here struggling, and strong winds at night have not allowed the irrigation to be put on. Maybe tonight will be calm and the house gardens can be watered. Rain would be nicer - some decent vertical overnight rain.

I guess we are experiencing a semi-drought, New Zealand East Coast style. Serious trouble for farmers and a nagging problem for silly gardeners like me who grow totally unsuitable plants. Right. I'm off to feed the hens and shift the hoses yet again. I need more mulch! More mulch! More mulch - less watering...

Tomorrow...

Before I do anything, some preparatory organisation for tomorrow is needed. My friend has given me more irises - pale blue and lemon ones - to pot up or place in the garden. My cherry pelargonium needs potting, too, and the scrophularia pieces need proper attention. A pink Azalea and some purple flowering hebes need digging out of a friend's garden to start their new life in the country. Fragrance from ten bags of horse manure has been wafting over the house patio barbecue - diners have complained. The offending organic matter must be shifted and spread on the garden. And it's time for a trailer-load of path mulch - the Hen House paths need a top-up.

Pink Annual Lavatera

Oh dear - that is such a long, jumbled paragraph. Why didn't I just write a list?

Saturday 9th February

Right. Today is an extremely busy day. Blast - NGP (Non-Gardening Partner, bless him) has escaped into the orchard to do some 'spraying' while there's no wind. But wait! Daughter of Moosey is available as a semi-willing garden helper. Yippee! Someone to wheel the heavy wheelbarrow loads... First we are going to a farmers' market, and on the way home we will pick up potting mix and more horse manure.

All my new iris pieces are to be put into pots. I tried planting the first ones directly into the Stables Garden, location of my newly organised iris patch, but the wind (and the cats) has left most lying sideways on the top of the soil.

Nursery Plans

Maybe there will be plant stalls at the farmers' market. If not I will pop into a couple of nurseries and check out their bargain bins. Being a compulsive plant rescuer well explains the jumbly nature of my planting style. If it's free, cheap, or unwanted - grab it!

Annual Dianthus

But I can also be an intelligent grabber - for example, my friend has offered me all her bright pink phloxes, but in her garden I see they are absolutely covered in mildew. These I have politely declined. I would like some of her tiger lilies, though, to add to the house border with the red dahlias and red striped canna lilies.