Give me an hour or so pottering in the garden at this time of the year any day. It beats mid summer gardening hands down. Fingers might be dropping off, nose might be running etc., etc but oh it does such wonders for the spirit. This morning's snow showers gave rise to a decent enough day so I have spent some time outside. Hampered by coat, scarf and gloves I have not actually achieved much. I did briefly take the gloves off and sowed my first seeds of the year (onions Rijnsburger and Red Baron) but mainly I just mooched, looked and made plans. Whilst looking I came across this fungi growing on the bark of a rather dilapidated buddleia. I have come across this before but never in the garden. It looks quite disgusting but fascinating at the same time.
I think that it's time to remove the shrub as despite bearing a few leaves it does not look like it will flourish again. Wonder if I can persuade himself to do aforesaid deed. It does not require his strength but I am worried that I might topple over. Would that I were twenty years again and more athletic. Then who am I kidding - have never been athletic. Our garden has a small stream on one boundary - aforesaid fungied shrub is just on the edge of a rather disconcerting drop down to the stream. I have visions of falling in and floating off, as in the above painting of 'The Lady of Shalott' by Millais. I would certainly not look as romantic as I wended my way downstream to the nearest culvert.
Back in the warmth now feeling reinvigorated. Hopefully there will be more opportunity to get out over the weekend. If not with the arrival of the March editions of 'The Gardener' and ' Gardens Illustrated' and a book to read before Tuesday's reading group meeting, I am certainly not short of reading matter.
Your blogpost reminds me of our visit in London last weekend.
ReplyDeleteYes, we were in Tate Britain, and I've admired 'The lady of Shalott'.
And I wonder how 'Rijnsburger' is pronounced in England ('ij' is a Dutch dipthong that exist in no other language I know!)
You are brave Anna! It was freezing here today with snow again this morning ... I like the sound of your little stream ...
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your reading over the weekend - is it really the March editions already!!
Jeanne x
Dear Anna, Great minds think alike! Have all of these things out now! Seriously, I do believe, like you, that when something in the garden is no longer performing as it should, then it is better to remove it.
ReplyDeleteI do hope the fungus in your picture is nothing serious. One is always a little alarmed at these unknown growths. Whatever, think of the fun of planting new things.
As for being twenty again, I doubt very much that we should have any interest in plants and gardens at that age. I know I didn't!
Anna, I do believe I've seen that same fungus -- or a relative -- growing on one of my support teepees for beans. We made them out of long branches found in the woods, and after our heavy rains last September, I had a whole bunch of these ugly, but as you say fascinating, little brown-burgundy pouches growing in my garden. Doesn't bode well for the buddleia, I'm afraid, as the branch was dead. :(
ReplyDeleteLove your stream. But I certainly wouldn't want to risk you becoming the Lady of Shallot. ;) Either way, sounds like you are enjoying the onset of spring!
Any time of year requires much standing and staring at my place. I've been out and about and see much to do. Do be careful and stay away from the water.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, warm days are all about being outside. We have the warmest weekend yet promised to arrive tomorrow, so I fully intend to be out putzing about, although not in the garden yet :)
ReplyDeleteIt does lift your spirits when you can get out in the garden and get some work done again. I think fungi is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteBut it's a buddleia. Why don't you just cut it to the ground? I do that every year and healthy new growth quickly appears.
ReplyDeleteI do so prefer working in the cold than in the sweltering heat... But our ground is still frozen solid and will be for 6-8 weeks, so there's nothing going here. Except possibly some pruning, but I did mine in fall (and will do it after bloom for flowering shrubs).
ReplyDeleteHow strange I thought I'd posted a comment here but perhaps not I thought I'd said how good you were to brave the eliments but I took a leaf out of your book and spent the afternoon in mine too.
ReplyDeleteI have always found that painting slightly creepy and masochistic :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is good to be able to do a bit in the garden even if the cold weather cuts it short.