As you can see, mine is a mess! |
As January continues to drone on, there is little to do in the garden, and dusting the house is not nearly as satisfying as playing in the real dirt outside. Now is the time to review your gardening journals to note seasonal happening of the past.
Year after year, depending
upon one's memory becomes impossible as a first garden slowly turns into
successive decades of them. Lovely gardens visited, names of plants, and often
disastrous experiments may be lost to memory entirely unless there is a
reminder of them. Not to mention the sorrow of accidentally severing sleeping
bulbs while planting new ones. Left to chance, the established garden may
suffer unless careful records are kept and a five year journal is best.
Now, when the garden is
resting is a good time to review the endeavors of the last season and make note
of exactly which plants thrived and those we accidentally killed. I have a list
of those I have loved and lost, and often wonder if my favorite roses will
greet me in heaven. I also have a list of those that will not acclimate to my
garden; like the detestable Rhododendron which was finally sent to the rubbish
heap, banished forever. Year after year it was a struggle to
keep it alive, moving it from place to place, from sun to dappled shade, from
various drainage and variable soils, until at last I forced myself to abandon
it altogether and promise never again. The same is true of Hydrangeas who will
absolutely refuse to live here for any reason and are a waste of otherwise
well-spent money.
The winter months are perfect
for planning for the next season. By reviewing a journal, one may note when to
expect the early Crocus, the Stars of Bethlehem and Peonies. Or when the last freezes
arrived and how the fruit trees fared. Journals may include diagrams of the
location of perennial plants and bulbs so there will be no mistakes when adding
new guests in the garden. The growth cycle from planting the seeds to enjoying
full bloom may be noted, as well as the scent of flowers and the taste of
vegetables at their peak, and which years were best. If left to recall crops
may not be rotated yearly, which may result in poor vegetable yields.
Thannk you for this
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