With all this glory, however, comes the weeds. So. Many. Weeds. But I am a longtime convert to the process of a winter full of work for a spring/summer full of surprise and joy, so I'm putting in the hard yards.
In the process, I'm coming up with 1000 metaphors that align gardening and writing. All of which I am sure to bore you with in the coming months as I edit my first novel and redraft my second.
In the meantime, though, I am concentrating on the small things. Little pleasures that make me pause to lean on my weeding fork and go 'oh'. Jonquil bulbs unfurling to waft scent across the garden. Tiny daisies that mass together to form a ball of sunshine. Velvety purple irises that appear out of nowhere overnight.
And the lavender that must be tip-pruned now for a spectacular show in September.
At least with lavender, the prunings can be brought into the house to fill the rooms with scent and colour.
That's win/win gardening.
Are you a gardener? What small pleasures do you find in winter gardening?
I'm always finding gardening metaphors for life in general. For me, winter gardening (and all its work) is about potential and hope for the future. My favorite quote is from Edna Walling and describes my style, "a garden should be just a little too big to keep the whole cultivated, then it has a chance to go a little wild in spots and create some pictures for you". I take this to mean a few odd weeds are fine! But boy am I working hard on the potential at the moment. Enjoy your new garden and don't forget that amidst the weeds may be the odd self-sown gem.
ReplyDeleteOh I love that quote - and I think I'll be relating to that...
DeleteThat's the best thing about being new to an old garden - you can constantly surprised by the plants popping up through the soil. Sounds like the old lady is the place to be this spring.
ReplyDeleteyou *are* ... hello, Friday!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of gardening. Especially the part where I sweep through in a white dress and a big straw hat, collecting flowers and herbs in my pretty basket.
ReplyDeletethe work? not so much.
I love pruning the fruit trees - standing back and admiring the (hopefully) beautiful vase shape at the end - as long as I don't get too enthusiastic with the secateurs!!
ReplyDelete*snap* I was wandering in the front garden bed here at the flats and I brought some lavender tips inside to perfume my kitchen. The big old rose bushes were recently pruned and already there are new shoots appearing on them.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written.
ReplyDeleteI'm am a huge gardener but not a lover of weeds.
Great blog header too.
Our garden is sadly neglected at the moment... and for no good reason. You are so right to get stuck into it now. Let's hope this post will motivate me into doing more than tut, tutting it! xx
ReplyDeleteI am a garden dreamer...! well....I have had some success with more to come hopefully.
ReplyDeleteI like....
A weed is just a plant misplaced.
I think of that saying when it comes to people too :D
Thanks for my visit
Jacq
Edna Walling worked with people who were wealthy enough to employ a gardener. I have a garden that size... just no gardener! And all I want to do is work on the forest! Garden = too hard basket!
ReplyDeleteI'm really not a fan of gardening, probably becausse I suck at it! I hate bugs too though, scary little things. However, when I do give in and weed the garden (I hate an unkept yard more than gardening) in spite of the back pain I always feel really good afterwards, like I've achieved something :-)
ReplyDeleteYes - it's actually a worthwhile form of exercise as well. Or so I keep telling myself!
DeleteI love gardening. I love seeing the bulbs coming up and pruning the roses so they come to life in spring!
ReplyDeleteI agree Alicia - it's worth all the effort!
DeleteIts Helebore time at my place.....Winter Roses. To me that's the best thing about winter, as I am a summer person!
ReplyDeleteOoh lovely!
DeleteSounds like a fine party dress to be wearing, even if you are on your knees. Lot's of gardening at our place too.
ReplyDeleteI do not need to garden - the lovely husband does it all - but I adore the fact that I can go pick herbs and salad leaves all year round...and clear up muddy footprints all year round too...
ReplyDeletexx
Sometimes I am so disappointed that there was no garden here when we bought this place... just an old house (moved from the city) plonked onto ten acres of paddock weeds. A part of me would just love an old rambley garden full of beauty and surprised to tame... because starting from scratch is hard work and takes a long time... but even then there is plenty of small pleasures :)
ReplyDelete