GBMD: Give it a chance


Most people, early in November, take last looks at their gardens, are then prepared to ignore them until the spring. I am quite sure that a garden doesn't like to be ignored like this. It doesn't like to be covered in dust sheets, as though it were an old room which you had shut up during the winter. Especially since a garden knows how gay and delightful it can be, even in the very frozen heart of the winter, if you only give it a chance.

Beverley Nichols (1898-1983)

Time to stir and get going methinks - despite the chilly weather!

Comments

  1. Lisa1 February 2012 at 08:38

    Gosh, you just reminded me of one of my favourite books as a child - The Tree That Sat Down :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lea s Menagerie1 February 2012 at 13:29

    Yes! Get out in the garden!
    We have 4 days forecast of mild temperatures. With rain, of course, but who minds a little rain!
    I'm planting radish seeds!
    I can cover them when the temperature drops back down to freezing at night.
    Happy gardening!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie
    Mississippi, USA

    ReplyDelete
  3. Linda1 February 2012 at 15:28

    I was out in the front flower bed yesterday afternoon. Not a real garden, mind you, but I pruned the roses and cut back the honeysuckle and lantana. Pulled some weeds. The winter has been so mild here in north Texas that my mums are still green! I discovered this after raking all the dry brown leaves off the bed. The rosemary is thriving and smells so GOOD! My mint is always abundant - no matter what!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 February 2012 at 11:47

      Hi Linda - our mint is surviving the winter here too! However, we've just entered a cold snap, so how much longer they'll survive remains to be seen. It's also hampered gardening activities somewhat!

      Delete
  4. petoskystone1 February 2012 at 17:30

    It isn't chilly here, at all! :/ 54F...in February.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 February 2012 at 11:47

      -8 degrees centigrade here! Until last week we had similar temperatures to you...

      Delete
  5. Gardeningbren1 February 2012 at 17:46

    Lovely view of your garden from above. Yes, there is always something to do in the garden (or for the garden) and in your climate, spring is just about to break out in bulb bloom. Lucky you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 February 2012 at 11:49

      Ha! I went out into the garden yesterday to do a few jobs, only to find everything was frozen solid. The bulbs are out early this year, so we're already in bulb bloom :)

      Delete
  6. Victoria Summerley1 February 2012 at 22:50

    Gardeningbren is right, it is a lovely view. It doesn't look as if anything needs doing at all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 February 2012 at 11:49

      aha - how the camera can lie! And guess what, the tall conifers are coming down very soon...

      Delete
  7. Eight by Six1 February 2012 at 23:09

    just to say thanks for my seeds, they arrived today x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP4 February 2012 at 11:50

      Amanda - I'm so glad they've arrived. Thanks for telling me, it's always good to know things have arrived safely :)

      Delete
  8. Janet/Plantaliscious5 February 2012 at 12:30

    How lovely to have a view of your garden - which doesn't look as if it is suffering from being ignored at all. Actually I'm not sure I agree with the sentiment, or not entirely, anyway. I think my garden can be rather grateful for some time out, and I know I am. It gets to relax a bit, without me fussing and stressing and tweaking and moving things around. That said, I do like to potter a little, cut back leaves, enjoy the crisp air. There again, I am a lousy housekeeper, and happily ignore dust and spider's webs in favour of more interesting activities.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ms B5 February 2012 at 14:18

    I was reminded that I meant to comment on this post by you posting on my blog......I cannot ignore my garden at any time other than night because I can see all of it all of the time. We sit in our back room & look at it fairly constantly so despite my reluctance to put to much effort into things it is (sort of) designed to look vaguely reasonable at all times & I do have to keep doing stuff to it all year.

    ReplyDelete
  10. VP18 February 2012 at 15:00

    Janet - since this post, drastic changes have been made. Watch this space!

    Ms B - perhaps if I could see mine all of the time, I'd look after it better...

    Thanks for your comments everyone - I wish I'd read that book as a child Lisa, it sounds lovely!

    ReplyDelete

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