I always find myself just going through the gardening 'motions' at this time of year.
In Christopher Lloyd's The Gardening Year, he warns against it, quote, 'The danger in a September garden - you see it everywhere - is sleaze'.
I was almost mechanically deadheading the yellow rose up by the gable end when inevitably I drifted off into thoughts about changing this and that, what failed, what worked, what to do next really. Yes it's that time of year.
Having just read Anna's post over at Greentapestry I thought I'd jot down a non too exhaustive list.
1. I really should grow Verbascum. The cosmos up in the bed near the cattle barn ran out of steam too early. It bakes up in that border, the verbena bonariensis loves it, so will verbascum, I'm wondering if I start some from seed in the next week or so whether it'll flower in time for next summer?
2. Take more care over composting. I have three 'bins' made from palettes, I turn one into the other every three months or so and have to say that the resulting compost looks really good. Well, it would be if it wasn't so full of weed seed. Oh and nicotiana, why did I compost the entire plant? I need to insulate the heap better, make it hotter and take more care.
3. I will, will, will purchase a stunning agarve next Spring to grow in a pot on the wall.
4. Move the leaf mould from last season instead of piling up the new leaf litter on top. This is a vrai job of work as I have mountains of leaf compost (mostly walnut) from last Autumn and it only serves to make life more dificult having to dig under the current leaf fall to get at the good stuff.
5. Alliums, alliums, alliums. I'm going to plant ornamental onions along both sides of the pergola so I need to buy the bulbs sooner rather than later.
6. Aquire some more Miscanthus. I'm really taken with miscanthus sinensis malepartus.
7. Take more cuttings. I've currently got lots of penstemon and sedum cuttings, together with fucshia riccartonii, but it's never enough. I might try rooting hormone this time.
8. Sit down and read the camera user manual.
Well, there's the 'tip' of the Iceberg as they say...
Why is it calming somehow to read another gardener's to-do list? Because we know then that we are not alone in rushing to get it all done before the winter sets in? Best wishes with your tidying up and planning ahead...
ReplyDeleteYour #8 is my #1. What's wrong with nicotiana? I am about to compost mine, and need to know. Turning compost... Oh, yeah, where is that compost pile? I need to find it before it get covered with snow, then I won't find it at all. Well, I'd rather make my own list as soon as possible. Thank you, Rob, for remindidng!
ReplyDeleteI, too, spent the afternoon tidying and such in my garden, dreaming about what was going to happen next year.......glad to know I'm not the only "sleazy" one....!
ReplyDeleteFunny Rob, I do that kind of daydreaming all year around. Every peruse of the garden yields things that need doing, moving, replacing, total renovating. My own compost, recently harvested is so full of tomato seeds that there are baby tomatoes all over the garden now. It seems impossible to not get seeds in that compost, weed or desirables. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Go with that rooting hormone! ;) That's a good list with several things that I should do as well. Especially the compost bin stuff. I still need to build one more bin.
ReplyDeleteI always make lists, put them in my gardening notebook, and then forget about them. :)
ReplyDeleteOf course there's nothing wrong with composting Nicotiana, just don't compost the seed heads as I did. I have a feeling that I'm never going to be without nicotiana 'Tinkerbell' from now on!
ReplyDeleteWe all do this, particularly when the new catalogues come and the gardening magazines say we should plan for Spring. It'll be Christmas cards in the shops next!
ReplyDeleteIt must be the time of year for making lists Rob. We will have to compare notes next September on our progress or otherwise :) Here my cosmos is only just making steam - two plants out of three are just coming into flower :( You are doing a great job without reading the manual!
ReplyDeleteRob, I have just been ignoring my sleazy garden, after all in a few weeks winter will come and all her "glory" will be buried.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a to do list. I find that I am adding my new ones on top of my 2008 list that didn't get finished.
But, I promise, the camera manual gets read this winter!
Thanks for posting a list. I love lists. I'd love to hear more about how you make your leaf mould!. It's on my list to do sometime...found some wonderful mould in my window wells & want more.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on that one, Rob! I do the same. I walk around the garden taking notes, muttering to myself, finding all sorts of things that went wrong. Yesterday we pulled up photos from last year just to see how much progress we'd made. Good to know we are not alone!
ReplyDeleteI saw Anna's list and now yours, and being a list maker myself I think these are a good idea. I've got a mental list going and I'm going outside today to start on it. I think it's what makes this time of year fun, the planning for next year. Otherwise September would be depressing for me.
ReplyDeleteTaking cuttings is a good one, and I'm adding it to my list.
The leaf mould just makes itself.
ReplyDeleteEvery year I collect all the leaves and cover them with a large black plastic sheet, puncture numerous holes in it to allow the rain to get in, anchor the corners down with bricks and forget about it for a year.
My #1 is to actually make a list of things to do and my #2 is to actually build a bin for the compost pile....LOL...oh my I'm so far behind all of you...I'll not only not be ready for winter, I'll not even be ready for next spring...and my little garden is only 25x25...whatever is my excuse? I do enjoy reading about folks who are organized and plan ahead...and who knows perhaps, someday.....
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Julia Child's book "My Life in France" and thought about you many times. Her descriptions are so lovely. The sunny terraces, fragrant plants on the warm air and of course the food.
ReplyDeleteGood list.
ReplyDeleteI just ordered larkspur seeds. I keep looking at the alliums. I liked what I grew this year, but in my zone, will they really return? Sometimes I should exercise patience, but that can mean 2 years in a garden waiting to see what works and I'm just not that patient!
Cameron
I don't make list--should I? It would change anyway. I do make a mental note of what I need but then come Spring---I'm lured by what is on display. In the Autumn, I say why didn't I plant such and such. I'm always criticizing myself on what needs to and should have been done.
ReplyDeleteOh, to garden in the Dordogne! I like your to do list. I'm also thinking of what plants to add next year. More dahlias for cutting and a new squash bed.
ReplyDeleteGood list Rob!
ReplyDeleteI too need to use up last years stonkingly good leaf mould and choose a new spot for this years'leaves.
I've been saying I must get aliums for about 3 years now ......so I really MUST get aliums!
Must finish the tea house?!
Ah those lists, I used to hate them - now they are my saving grace. It gives me such a sense of accomplishment when I cross something off. And the camera manual.....it's always on the list!
ReplyDeleteThe one I relate to is the camera manual. Yesterday, one of my clients was appalled when she realized I don't know what most of the settings on my camera or for. (although she didn't say camera, she said point-and-click with a distinct sneer in her voice.)
ReplyDeleteCamera manual? Shoot. Don't need to. Sure, you are missing a lot, but are you a man, or are you a MAN?
ReplyDeleteI had another go at my camera manual this week, and it was very helpful. I hope you find the time to go through yours again, it's fun to put new ideas into action and see the results.
ReplyDeleteOurs definitely running towards 'sleaze' Christopher Lloyd a personal gardening hero. In haste, from foreign climes, F
ReplyDeleteOMG I just found your blog via Landscape, Design, Decorating. I just love it. It is such a beautiful blog. I'm adding you to my list of favorites!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Gosh I wish my list was so short. I think I am giving up the will to garden at present there is so much to do.
ReplyDelete