I know, it was only December and I was muttering about how daft the plants were, treating it like a balmy March afternoon.
It’s not got any better.
Primulas, primroses and pansies
Witch hazels
Vibernum
Hellibores, but they’re to be expected
And roses still going…
My digging though is progressing.
I’ve finished the long bed and the triangular bed and now I’m stretching across the top bed where we have grown veg and many herbaceous plants. What will go in after all my hard work if for the Textiliste and the Lad though my spies say seeds have been bought…
At least the pigeons and other birds enjoy the tripods…
My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline.
I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy.
I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere.
These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
You say it, Geoff. This season the climate change is more than obvious. Today I was shocked to see that my willow is already budding… two months early…
Very nice – we’re not out of the woods yet, though! Feb & March can be very cold…
My bro-in-law is trying this out on one of his allotment sections: https://charlesdowding.co.uk/
(No Dig Organic)
While digging is an effective way of removing perennial weed roots, it also often causes seeds that can remain dormant for many decades to come to the surface and germinate. The act of aerating the soil also increases the rate of decomposition and reduces soil organic matter.[7] Digging can also damage soil structure, causing compaction, and unbalance symbiotic and mutualist interactions among soil life. Digging tends to displace nutrients, shifting surface organic material deeper, where there is less oxygen to support the decomposition to plant-available nutrients, which then need to be otherwise replenished.
He’s an energetic soul but doesn’t mind the idea of less digging!
Nah that’s all bollocks… I’ve been digging since my dad got me on it years ago and I’m happy with the results. If it works, and it does then that’s goid for me
He says much the same but fancies the experiment! Going to try it with splitting batches of veg seedlings between dug and undug strips.
Bird photos are nice 😊
Yes let’s see what does best. Truth is thus was mostly so we can completely redo these beds and get out the deep rooted weeds. So it’ll not be dug like this again for a while
It was fun to get this tour of your garden in winter. Wow, you have a lot of colour back there! All of the plants here in Toronto are dead or dormant. We’re surrounded by never-ending shades of black, brown, and grey from November until April unless we’ve had a recent snowstorm. 🙂
What was winter generally like for South London before climate change started affecting your weather patterns so much?
It’s been warming this century, maybe before. In the 60s and 79s prolonged snow was common but even there we’re talking maybe a week! By the mid 80s 3 days was the max and maybe once or twice in Jan/ Feb with the odd day interspersed. By the mid noughties it was the odd day, rarely two and nothing really for four or five years. Nowadays we are seeing less frosts. They were common until five years ago. Regularly nights in December – early March were at or just below freezing. The last two to five years decreasingly so and no frost at all this winter so far. Which is a bugger because a good frost does do for the aphids and is needed by some plants to force them to be dormant eg fushias and hebes as well as breaking up the ground.
Your garden is in full early spring bloom. The Hellebores are only a little early, but everything else! Wow. It is a beautiful garden. I love it every time you write about it.
Tonight, a light frost glstens on the grass and the deck. My worry head is already on, worrying for the Lilacs, the sumptuous buds bulging hoping for spring. Snowdrops already out Honeysuckle exposing their tender buds. The frostthreatens to knock them off , each hope for a blossom frozen each plañt unable to repeal or recover.
What an ambivalent delight to see and read about these signs of spring while simultaneously being aware of the foreboding future (fewer frosts meaning more pests unkilled during winter months, for example) the warmer weather portends. Similar to Toronto, we in Boston are contenting ourselves with the browns and grays of melting snow and decomposing leaves and naked deciduous trees — while keeping our eyes peeled for snowdrops and crocus… Thank you for these lovely photos + wry commentary.
TanGental 
Lovely to see everything flourishing Geoff. It looks like winter is set to be pretty mild…
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Ridiculously so Bridget
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Lovely garden Geoff. We have spuds coming up in our pots and new growth on our rhubarb, rose bushes, buddliah and hydrangea.
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It’s daft. One frost…
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I know! We have the bubble wrap in the wings……………
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This winter is crazy. My hazels have been blooming too for 2 weeks. At least, no flowers blooming yet… yet…
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Crazy world. It would be delightful if I didnt know why…
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You say it, Geoff. This season the climate change is more than obvious. Today I was shocked to see that my willow is already budding… two months early…
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Looks lovely and Dog looks great too.
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Dog doesn’t mind the lack of a good frost
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Very nice – we’re not out of the woods yet, though! Feb & March can be very cold…
My bro-in-law is trying this out on one of his allotment sections:
https://charlesdowding.co.uk/
(No Dig Organic)
While digging is an effective way of removing perennial weed roots, it also often causes seeds that can remain dormant for many decades to come to the surface and germinate. The act of aerating the soil also increases the rate of decomposition and reduces soil organic matter.[7] Digging can also damage soil structure, causing compaction, and unbalance symbiotic and mutualist interactions among soil life. Digging tends to displace nutrients, shifting surface organic material deeper, where there is less oxygen to support the decomposition to plant-available nutrients, which then need to be otherwise replenished.
He’s an energetic soul but doesn’t mind the idea of less digging!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nah that’s all bollocks… I’ve been digging since my dad got me on it years ago and I’m happy with the results. If it works, and it does then that’s goid for me
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He says much the same but fancies the experiment! Going to try it with splitting batches of veg seedlings between dug and undug strips.
Bird photos are nice 😊
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Yes let’s see what does best. Truth is thus was mostly so we can completely redo these beds and get out the deep rooted weeds. So it’ll not be dug like this again for a while
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Gorgeous 🥰
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Your garden really is lovely, Geoff.
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I love this trip around your home park 😜💜💜💜💜
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Ha!
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💜😁💜💜
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We went from 72 degrees last Saturday to 17 degrees today. I don’t think our plants stand a chance!
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Amazing! Might as well enjoy!
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I suppose. Crap weather will come I’m sure
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Such an enviable garden, Geoff.
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Oh v kind…
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I love that fat little robin.
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Tonnes of worms
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It was fun to get this tour of your garden in winter. Wow, you have a lot of colour back there! All of the plants here in Toronto are dead or dormant. We’re surrounded by never-ending shades of black, brown, and grey from November until April unless we’ve had a recent snowstorm. 🙂
What was winter generally like for South London before climate change started affecting your weather patterns so much?
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It’s been warming this century, maybe before. In the 60s and 79s prolonged snow was common but even there we’re talking maybe a week! By the mid 80s 3 days was the max and maybe once or twice in Jan/ Feb with the odd day interspersed. By the mid noughties it was the odd day, rarely two and nothing really for four or five years. Nowadays we are seeing less frosts. They were common until five years ago. Regularly nights in December – early March were at or just below freezing. The last two to five years decreasingly so and no frost at all this winter so far. Which is a bugger because a good frost does do for the aphids and is needed by some plants to force them to be dormant eg fushias and hebes as well as breaking up the ground.
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Your garden is in full early spring bloom. The Hellebores are only a little early, but everything else! Wow. It is a beautiful garden. I love it every time you write about it.
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It’s a bit of a sanctuary. And a gym. And a refresher.
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Tonight, a light frost glstens on the grass and the deck. My worry head is already on, worrying for the Lilacs, the sumptuous buds bulging hoping for spring. Snowdrops already out Honeysuckle exposing their tender buds. The frostthreatens to knock them off , each hope for a blossom frozen each plañt unable to repeal or recover.
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Nature is getting so confused! Your garden looks great for mid-winter.
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It’s good for April I worry!
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Gorgeous garden, Geoff!
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Thanks Jennie
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You’re welcome, Geoff.
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Any day in the garden if Dog and Birds make an appearance is bound to be a good day.
Better medicine hast no man than he lay down his sod for another.
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We need to be prepared to be more sod in these confused days.
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What an ambivalent delight to see and read about these signs of spring while simultaneously being aware of the foreboding future (fewer frosts meaning more pests unkilled during winter months, for example) the warmer weather portends. Similar to Toronto, we in Boston are contenting ourselves with the browns and grays of melting snow and decomposing leaves and naked deciduous trees — while keeping our eyes peeled for snowdrops and crocus… Thank you for these lovely photos + wry commentary.
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Pleasure, indeed. Yes it’s with a somewhat cynical eye I watch these early buddings
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