It's Been a While

 

2020 has been a funny old year. 

We've had highs and lows.

In the spring we had lockdown but as a key worker, for a while things remained the same.  In the early summer I began working every other day from home and we rehomed a puppy, Daisy.

In the garden we planted two desert cherry trees and another ornamental cherry, bringing the tree count to 18.  Then we lost our gorgeous stag horn tree in the front garden to a summer storm.

So this time of year we really missing our autumn display in the front room window.

Autumn colour is really important in our garden and when a shrub or tree in particular is chosen, we tend to ensure that they pack a punch as they fade.

Euonymus elata Blade Runner 

Prunus Fragrant Cloud 

Weigela Wings of Fire (our Angel's shrub)

Liquidamber styraciflua Lane Roberts 

And our newest edition, bringing the count back up to 18, acer October Glory.

As you can see, we have planted this vibrant beauty in one of the Patio Borders, because our neighbours decided to rip out the evergreen conifer hedge that hid the view of the people below us.  It's not much just now, in fact as I write this entry only a solitary leaf remains on it but this certainly has a wow factor for autumn that we want.  The buttery yellow of the leaves of the three birches behind, in Mugwart's Retreat, really lend to the depth of autumn colour we're after....or at least it will do in a year or two when this has filled out.

In place of our stag horn tree, we have planted

a cornus Baton Rouge.

 

We have another cornus of the same variety, in the Yen, and it's a fantastic choice for bright red winter stems.

We have had another loss recently.  

Ellie was our  Yorkshire Terrier.  She was found to have advanced kidney disease in the summer.  She was put on medication and we were told that she would likely be with us for just a couple of months.  Last week we said goodbye and Ellie has been reunited with Angel, our border collie who we lost last November. 

Some of Angel's ashes are scattered in the shade beneath the weigela Wings of Fire.  Ellie's ashes have today  been scattered beneath weigela Florida Variagata in the opposite corner. In full sun. Just where she liked to be most.

The problem with aging....

...is that the mind and body often clash.  The mind suggests that this needs an overhaul or that needs attention.  The body stands, hands on hips, with an attitude and says hell no!

I do love a bit of a clash in the garden however. 

The two gardens that for me have really surpassed my expectations this year are the Yen (above) and Mugwart's Retreat (below).  The plants have really settled in since they both had an overhaul and I'm really enjoying the firm shapes with pops of colour in the Yen.  The serenity continues in Mugwart's Retreat but with a more relaxed vibe. 

Since this photo was taken of the Retreat however, our neighbour has removed the high hedge so the light has changed a little.  We shall soon find out the impact on the plants on this once shaded area.

Sadly the impact has already been felt with the loss of habitat for the sparrows that had called this large expanse of evergreen hedging home.  There has been a marked decline in feathered visitors to our bird feeders, as they have flown further afield in search of shelter. 

A little solace was discovered today in our tiny pond.  The miniature water lily has produced a single bloom!

June's blooms

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 4 months, Covid-19 has had an impact on everyone. Everyone. Every person on this planet.  Just the concept of that is mind blowing.

For a period of time, the whole of humanity came together while being apart.  If you take away the misery and pain that this devastating disease has brought on, and focus on the fact that the country you come from, the language you speak, the colour of your skin, the leader you follow, your religious beliefs, your salary, the car you drive, your musical tastes and even the size of your garden...we are all the same.

We are human.



Gardening has been affected by the coronavirus.  In fact we're lucky to even have any plants to buy!  There were reports of nurseries having to consider throwing away hundreds and thousands of plants.

At the last moment, the government stepped in and many gardening businesses were given a reprieve.  

Usually my baskets and containers are burgeoning under blousy summer bedding by now. This year is a little different.  My pots all have a mixture of annuals and perennials...

Osteospermum jostle with dianthus and Petunias.  Not my usual colour coordinating displays but at least there are blooms and I am so very grateful to those humans who despite lockdown, grew each plant for me.

Every

Single

Plant

And bloom

No human is more important than the next human.  Not whether they are the president of a country, the monarch of another...or the human who cleans toilets for a living.

Each cog is vital.

Each human is important. 

Each person matters.

Be kind.