Lake Make-Over

Despite my feelings of glumness at returning to work yesterday, (which must be psychosomatic because I love my job!), I actually had a marvellous time, the injection of some much needed fresh air and exercise soon roused me from that post Christmas catatonic state and loosened muscles stiff from inactivity. It has reached that time of year at Norton Conyers when we retreat into the woods to continue clearing unwanted trees and build insect habitats out of dead branches, but this year we have moved down to the lakeside and must therefore remove rotting branches from the waters edge, hopefully opening up what will once again be a beautiful vista. Dirty, smelly, muscle wrenching work but great fun nonetheless especially when our campfire cooking skills are put to the test with potatoes baked in the embers, Giles even brought some grated cheese, delicious! So as you can see there is nothing like a meal taken in the great outdoors using cut logs for stools and hunger as the best sauce, we enjoyed it so much we've decided to cook sausages on Saturday!

"Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical exercise save it and preserve it"
Plato

Blue Monday

They sat that the first working Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year and I'm sure most of us would agree. I've been suffering from the blues for at least a week now and when I gaze upon my garden the only words I can muster up begin with D, lets start with dullness and dissatisfaction, quickly followed by disgust and doubt. Nothing appears to be thriving and I don't have the money to rip it all out and start from scratch. This is the moment in a gardeners yearly calender when we must call on that most noble of resources, Patience. I may not be the most accomplished plants-woman or original designer but with natures help and a good dollop of patience I know I will eventually transform my shabby back garden into a thing of beauty, if only in my own eyes! It may take another ten years, especially if I grow most of it from seed, but it will happen. So to all you fellow SAD sufferers out there hang on, spring will surely follow winter!

"All human wisdom is summed up in two words-wait and hope"
Alexander Dumas Pere

A Reverse Manicure

Happy New Year everyone, I thought it was about time I stuck my head above the parapet at last! I've been taking a long break and am not yet back at work, but due to the chronically wet conditions I don't think I've missed much action. My gardening activities over the past couple of weeks have consisted of flicking through the new seed catalogues, learning how to wield my new plant labelling machine and opening the lid of my cold frame on the pitifully few dry days we've been blessed with. However I detect a slight tingling in the old green digits again so it's definitely time to take off the Christmas nail polish and feel the earth collect under my fingernails once more.

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life"
Rachel Carson

Have Yourself A Rainy Little Christmas

Well despite the usual threats from the press about this winter being one of the coldest for decades, it would seem nature has decided otherwise. It sure has been one soggy old year and I for one will be glad to see the back of it. I should be at Norton Conyers tomorrow winding the year down with good wishes and mince pies, but the forecast is so grim there is no point in going, so no more garden adventures for 2012. Privet and Confidential wishes everyone a peaceful and joyous time and will be back to regale you with more tales in the new year.

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air" W.T. Ellis

Festive Fun

The weather was unkind to us on Monday but as it turned out Giles had a little festive fun in store. He decided that we should make Christmas wreaths with whatever treasures we could glean from the garden. Now I'm not the most artistic of people but as you will see even I managed to cobble together a couple of decent efforts. We took willow cuttings from around the vegetable plot and twisted the stems into rings, this could be done with any brightly coloured pliable twigs that you could find. Then we slotted in some greenery and jewel like rose hips and the dried citrus fruits that Alyson had brought in. We made six in total, one for the big house, one for the garden gate and the rest we were allowed to take home. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed making something so much and if I can do it believe me anyone can, so have a go!

"Symbolising eternal hope the wreath goes round and round, and where it starts or ends cannot be found. Woven of things that grow-for life, and hung for holiday delight, the wreath must be left in place from advent through twelfth night" Anon

This one is my favourite......

but I think this one has a certain naive charm too!

Expect The Unexpected

The one thing I love about working at Norton Conyers is that you can always expect the unexpected. No two days are ever the same, even if you are plugging away at the same task. Sometimes the unexpected takes the form of a small thing, a freshly bloomed flower or the sighting of a wild bird, at other times it is something more unusual. Yesterday was just such a day when Lord and Lady Graham invited us into the house to view the renovations that have been taking place over the course of this year. This stately home is so steeped in history that new discoveries are taking place all the time, it was fascinating to view all the layers of wallpaper revealed in one room, dating from the restoration right through to the 1960's and then mesmerising to be entertained with Graham family tales by Sir James. Such a personal insight into secrets that few people have seen before us made us feel a part of the continuing saga of the estate, it is kind of the Grahams to extend that sense of belonging to us humble gardeners!

"Objects we ardently pursue bring little happiness when gained, most of our pleasures come from unexpected sources" Herbert Spencer

A Hoar Frost

We awoke to freezing fog and a hoar frost this morning, each twig and leaf laid bare in exquisite detail. Harlow Carr garden has seldom been so beautiful in my eyes, but alas we were not to be allowed the luxury of exploring the grounds as it was deemed to be too cold, which at -5 our tutor had a point I suppose, I wouldn't have minded the opportunity for a quick chilly dip into such a seasonal winter wonderland though. Instead we were given another plant identification list to learn through the Christmas holidays, they are coming thick and fast now which is good practise for me. I could have gone exploring at lunchtime I suppose but Chumdog was waiting and the prospect of hot soup was too tempting for me to linger.

"Frost is the greatest artist in our clime, he paints in nature and describes in rime" Thomas Hood