Winter Garden

Winter coming into spring is the prettiest time in my garden. The garden is usually overgrown or looking forgotten (because I don’t garden) and then suddenly lots of random flowers start popping up out of nowhere. Daffodils, bluebells and many other flowers that I don’t know the names of, start shooting up amongst the violets that have taken over.

It gives me hope knowing that even though I have managed to kill a number of plants, some will continue to survive my terrible reign over this old heritage house and it’s garden. There are old pictures and paintings of the house that were left here by the previous owners and I cant help feeling guilty when I look at them, seeing the garden that once was, before we arrived.

It’s at this point in the year when I start to get enthusiastic about gardening. I buy new plants to replace those that have died in their pots. I research unique flowers that I want, that will probably never grow in this climate. I obsess over pretty flowers that might look nice in a vase on the bench that would be nice to have. I check my herb garden and see what has survived since I last gave some attention. The well-established rosemary and sage are fine, my own chives, basil and parsley are gone and coriander, the one herb I don’t use, is always going strong.

This enthusiasm will last a few months until I lose motivation, get busy and move my focus onto other things. Then once again the winter/spring season arrives and I repeat all of the above.

I am proud to say that as each year passes, more plants survive, one of my trees bares fruit or I manage to learn a new gardening term. One day, probably in 20 years when my kids have moved out and we make the hard decision to downsize, I will look at the garden and realize I have managed to earn my green thumb and keep it. But until then I will be spending my 4am feeds searching the internet for the bulbs of a rare and beautiful pink daffodil which, if actually purchased, will be in for a rough ride for a while…