Garden Journal 2007

Ten Moosey Garden Journal years have passed - my goodness, how time flies. And so much in the garden changes, too - as my plants grow far too big for their alloted spaces. But I still have far too much to write about. And I have some some serious questions.

What will the year 2007 bring to the Moosey Garden? How many new roses can I justify purchasing? Where will I possibly plant them all? And what will the weather patterns be like? Hopefully nothing too extreme.

Imagine how amazing my garden would be if I rationed my journal writing time, and left my flowery prose for more of the real thing - like weeding...

How about some gardening resolutions?How about some gardening resolutions?...
Happy New Year! Let's get straight to the point - how about some gardening resolutions? Same old, same old - stake the dahlias, weed every day, prune the shrubs after flowering, don't mulch your secateurs...
Could it be summer?Could it be summer?...
Yippee! It's sunny and warm again - that makes two days in a row. Could it be summer? I usually go by the red daylilies in the perennial garden by the pergola. When they're flowering - then it's officially summer. And they are!
A real summer gardener?A real summer gardener?...
Right. I am going to be a real summer gardener for the - third day this summer? Wow! I am going to make a sensible list, after some equally sensible comments regarding summer colour.
Tra-la-la...Tra-la-la......
Oops. Tra-la-la. The Head Gardener has weaseled her way into a choir which is performing Bach's Mass in B minor quite soon. Gardening will have to be accompanied by some serious warbling - perhaps I have found the perfect gardening music?
I havenI haven't done much gardening this month......
Hmm... I haven't done much gardening this month. I've done a lot of swimming, walking and singing. But generally the garden is looking good. This may be more due to the high summer rainfall than the gardener...
I didnI didn't plant it......
Now the hot dry winds have arrived, and everything is blowing over. My gum trees are shedding their bark, and a certain blue weedy forget-me-not has burst back into life - everywhere! I didn't plant it, honestly!
Aargh! Distractions!Aargh! Distractions!...
Aargh! Distractions like singing are over - now the gardening can commence in earnest. And the New Shredder arrives any day. How large and industrial will it be? In other words, will I break it?
February - wow!February - wow!...
February - wow! This time last year I hadn't quite retired. I'm so glad I took the plunge. Here I am, almost one year on, sillier, busier, and happier - and naturally the garden should be tidier and better. I think it's bigger...
Warm, sunny days...Warm, sunny days......
We are enjoying warm, sunny days - finally summer has arrived! So the big irrigation has been awakened from hibernation, and I've been kept busy shifting the smaller hoses around. I'm very lucky to have an abundance of good water.
CC'mon, Head Gardener!...
C'mon, Head Gardener, get out there in that garden! Where have you got to? The borders need weeding, the lawns need mowing, the paths need raking... Really!
Same old story...Same old story......
At the beginning of February I remember making a serious New Month's Resolution to work really hard, and finish absolutely everything that needs finishing. Well, it's the same old story - I'm lagging behind! And the weeds just love me!
I knew it!I knew it!...
I knew it! I just knew that February would zoom along, leaving me behind. It makes me wonder about gardening goals - if I didn't have any, then I wouldn't know I'd missed them. Blast!
Secret strategy...Secret strategy......
Secret strategy - if I start a brand new page in my gardening journal, I will have to spend the remaining three days of February gardening madly. Otherwise I won't have anything to write about.
I need to be outside...I need to be outside......
It's March. Oh dear. I've got no time to write anything - I need to be outside in the garden. There's mulching, weeding, raking, and watering to do - and later this month some upcoming plant sales to look forward to.
I am a very messy gardener...I am a very messy gardener......
Oh dear - I am having a mild gardener's crisis. I am a very messy gardener. This is because I am a messy person. My car, my house, my kitchen drawers are all messy. Even my hair is messy.
Reformed, revitalised, remotivated...Reformed, revitalised, remotivated......
My March garden reformation continues - long may the Head Gardener continue in her reformed, revitalised, remotivated, recharged mood. All this to justify some nursery sale spending? And it's the spring bulb buying season. Oops.
II've gone to seed?...
Autumn continues to 'march' in - I feel like I've gone to seed, a bit like my lettuces in the vegetable garden. It's Moosey the Moocher, let loose in her large country garden. And there is a slight problem with the Moosey garden photographs...
Inspired by Rosemary Verey...Inspired by Rosemary Verey......
My efforts to stay inspired by Rosemary Verey continue - I'm imagining I'm welcoming garden visitors into an orderly, cared-for garden. And I have some great news regarding the Moosey garden photographs...
Grr... Spam...Grr... Spam......
Grr... Spam. Just how many loan requests does a busy lady gardener need to have approved? Some legitimate lottery winnings would be nice, and could pay for the new pond, and the new rose garden, and a floating paddle-wheel water pump...
Practical versus impractical...Practical versus impractical......
I have some practical garden plans. I have some impractical piano playing plans (last night's was to play every piece of piano music Albeniz ever wrote). I can't remember making any gardening goals regarding March, but I'm running out of March time.
An April FoolAn April Fool's joke on my garden......
Hee hee. I thought I could do an April Fool's joke on my garden, but I only have until lunchtime. Several thoughts occur, but the very fact that I am thinking of silly things to do means only one thing - it's called procrastination! Aargh!
What I should be doing...What I should be doing......
Well, I've certainly written a lot so far this April. Not sure if this is a good thing for the garden, though. I should be weeding and mulching madly, getting ready for the arrival of scores of Easter sale plants.
April EasterApril Easter...
Happy Easter! Full moon, full tummies (chocolate eggs, oops), and a full cat house - we are fostering a little grey kitten. Full trailer - bricks for the garden. Full wallet? Oops - the Easter nursery plant sales are in full swing...
Patiently waiting...Patiently waiting......
It's the weekend after Easter and most of my nursery sale plants are still patiently waiting for their planting moment in the sun. They've been well watered by the rain - so where am I going to plant them all?
Beat that storm!Beat that storm!...
I'm taking part in a Great Race - a southerly is forecast, with rain, arriving this morning. I have plans to beat the storm - planting, laying bricks by the hen house, and continuing my autumn clean up - before the weather gets nasty.
So sad!So sad!...
Oh dear. Overnight we have lost both the cricket and the rugby league, to Australia. That's so sad! But sadder is the problem that Australia is having with water supplies. Poor Australian farmers - and poor Australian gardeners!
Autumn is here...Autumn is here......
Autumn is here, April is almost over, and most of my burnable rubbish has been burnt. Yippee! Those beautiful autumn colours are really firing up my garden, too. And I've started to finalise plans for my Semi-Grand World Garden Tour.
May is here!May is here!...
May is here! Good morning, mellow May, late autumn month in the Moosey Garden. From the office I can see gold tops of Prunus trees, out the bathroom window the cherry red Maples and Dogwoods in the gardens over the water race.
The Moosey autumn garden...The Moosey autumn garden......
Is it too early to make lists for my Semi-Grand-Global-Garden-Tour? Camera, notebooks, hiking shoes, sunscreen... I've started to get excited, and I have over four weeks to go! Meanwhile, back to reality - the Moosey Autumn garden...
Be fierce!Be fierce!...
Today I have to work fiercely in my garden. There are four weeks to go until I fly off on my trip. I must leave a tidy, well-organised winter garden behind. Every dry and warm day (like today) must be spent wisely!
The Great Garden Race...The Great Garden Race......
Another Great Garden Race - a southerly storm is trundling up the island, which means rain and cold winds. I need to get plants planed, newspaper and mulch laid, before the wet weather comes, and let nature do the watering.
What needs finishing?What needs finishing?...
Right. A new gardening week. New gardening goals. What needs finishing? What needs starting? I can't think of much, apart from the same old autumn garden maintenance chores. Official warning - the Head Gardener is a bit bored...
Visualisation...Visualisation......
Eek! It's three weeks until my Semi-Grand Global Garden Tour. I'm starting to do a lot of pre-trip visualisation - I can see colourful summer gardens full of roses and a lightly tanned, fluster-free Moosey in a beautiful flowing cotton shirt...
Write a serious list...Write a serious list......
Now there are nearly two weeks to go until my world trip. I have to confess - I'm thinking about it almost as much as my garden! It's probably time to write the first serious list.
My world travelling trip starts soon!My world travelling trip starts soon!...
This is the second to last weekend in the garden before my world travelling trip. Theoretically the weekends should feel the same as the weeks do, for a retired lady gardener - but no! My garden helper is available...
Four gardening days left...Four gardening days left......
It's June - in five days time I will be off, flying towards Singapore, the first stop in my world trip. So I have four gardening days left, four days with the dog and the cats, four days to do my minimal packing...
June GoodbyesJune Goodbyes...
Right. This is goodbye. All packed - one green shirt, one blue shirt, one white shirt, three-quarter pants, a skirt, and my red gardening shoes. What have I forgotten? Hairbrush? Aargh!
Holiday 1 - SingaporeHoliday 1 - Singapore...
Here is my very first holiday journal page, covering the few days I spent on the beautiful island of Singapore. I even went to the Botanic Gardens twice! Due to very red face (heat and humidity), many smiling photographs of visiting self have had to be omitted.
Holiday 2 - EuropeHoliday 2 - Europe...
I've left the hot humid garden island of Singapore behind. Here's my second holiday journal page, beginning in Europe, ducking efficiently underneath the English Channel and ending up in front of the Cordylines in Kew Gardens, London. Be very impressed!
Holiday 3 - ScotlandHoliday 3 - Scotland...
Now my Scottish adventure really begins. I have flown half way around the world to see the New Zealand native trees and shrubs growing in a Scottish Highland garden. This may seem excessive, but I'm really excited - it will be like meeting old friends.
Holiday 4 - ScotlandHoliday 4 - Scotland...
The fun and adventure continues, as I zoom in my little blue rental car over the narrow roads through the most beautiful scenery to visit Scotland's famous gardens. Finally I arrive at Inverewe, the most famous of them all.
Realities...Realities......
The first week of July is spent reacquainting self with the realities of a wet, cold winter garden. My gumboots leak, and it gets dark so early! But it's so nice to be home with my piano, cats, and the dog.
Holiday 5 - ScotlandHoliday 5 - Scotland...
There are still more West Coast of Scotland gardens to visit, some of which are on the Isle of Skye. The car ferry from the Kyle of Lochalsh has been superseded by a huge bridge, and I'm not sure which sea-crossing makes me more nervous!
Holiday 6 - Going Nowhere?Holiday 6 - Going Nowhere?...
It's time to say goodbye to the lovely gardens of Scotland, then a quick hello to London, then goodbye again. But I don't get very far, ending up in Frankfurt Airport to experience my first serious airport jam - a day-long rebooking queue.
Holiday 7 - USAHoliday 7 - USA...
We've arrived in North America! Finally Air France flies us out of Frankfurt to Washington DC, where the Moosey fingerprints are ceremonially taken. My neighbour on the plane tells me I have 'farmer's hands'... Hmm - where's my gardeners' hand cream?
Holiday 8 - CanadaHoliday 8 - Canada...
It's the last part of my holiday - some relaxing family time in Ontario, Canada. My garden visiting will be minimal. I might even do some serious outdoor clothes shopping instead!
One muddy hour...One muddy hour......
I've been back from my holiday now for over a week. Gardenwise I've only spent one muddy hour in the patio garden cutting back the Nepeta. This is simply not good enough!
My seed catalogue has arrived!My seed catalogue has arrived!...
Yippee - my seed catalogue has arrived! I have ticked lots and lots of yellow flowers, some interesting new perennials, and organic heirloom vegetables. This is the easy part.
An exciting day for Non-Gardening Partner...An exciting day for Non-Gardening Partner......
Happy Birthday to non-gardening partner. I have planned an exciting day for him in the garden - birthday chain-sawing, followed by birthday shredding. Blast - he has escaped to a rural fire-fighting training day. The best laid plans of mice and older-lady gardeners...
Are there enough days left?Are there enough days left?...
Oops. July has 31 days - it hasn't ended just yet. Are there enough days left for me to finish all the rose pruning, and cast my critical eye on all the garden areas? I have plans for some big winter spending - at more than one specialist nursery. Details to follow...
Kicked into overdrive...Kicked into overdrive......
My winter gardening has kicked into overdrive, as I prune and dig, weed and plant. The Moosey paths are being formalised, too - widened and covered with wood shavings. There can be no more path shifting!
Lots of new plants...Lots of new plants......
My Welcome Garden looks better - it has lots of new plants, including warm red flaxes, a trio of red Ake Akes, lots of glossy green Hebes, and some chunky Pittosporums. I think we both deserve a huge terracotta pot.
Ornamental problems...Ornamental problems......
I'm having problems choosing suitable garden ornaments. I am not confident to choose something artistic, not creative enough to make one myself, not rustic enough for a wagon-wheel, and not classical enough for a statue. One large pot that I like is shaped like a supersized sewer pipe... Oops...
More flexible?More flexible?...
I am going to adopt a more flexible attitude. If I garden for hours and hours and don't get anything finished, I must still find cause for personal celebration. For example, not losing any of my garden tools, or hurting any body bits too much...
Garden memories...Garden memories......
Simple things lift a winter gardening spirit - like seeing again all my summer holiday pictures, and me smiling in front of a Walled garden in Scotland. I absolutely love these garden memories - and I'm glad I courageously interrupted other visitors to get Head Gardener photographs!
The new waterside garden...The new waterside garden......
I need to think very seriously about the new waterside garden. I need a shortlist of - say - six great ideas. And I also need to think about the possible integration of bridges and paths. Building a garden around a new Monet style bridge would surely create some sense of cohesion!
Two new garden digging projects on the go...Two new garden digging projects on the go......
Now I have two new garden digging projects on the go, simultaneously, and still I'm tempted to sneak off and buy more roses and hebes. And when am I going to start weeding all the beds, ready for spring?
Nearly dug...Nearly dug......
The new glass-house garden is nearly dug, and the new back lawn is nearly finished. I'm ready to go shopping for a small specimen tree - I'd like another wine-coloured Cercis Forest Pansy. Hmm... What a good excuse!
New Zealand forests...New Zealand forests......
I am back from a short road trip to the West Coast to see the glaciers. I have finally bought a book on New Zealand forests - trees, shrubs, and wildlife - prepare for a flood of information about podocarp forests, and the two different types of tree ferns!
My September resolutions...My September resolutions......
Hello, September, springy month. To show appreciation of my lovely egg-laying hens, I have started having a morning egg for breakfast - the first of my September resolutions. Power packed with protein, my gardening days should be even more amazing...
Plotting...Plotting......
Spring has sprung a cold, wet weather surprise, so I've been inside resting my gardening hands and digging feet - and plotting my next garden spending spree. Lots of fun...
Silly medium-old lady!Silly medium-old lady!...
I am a silly old (medium-old) lady! It's my birthday today, so I've been busy telling everyone I can find. So far, 'everyone' consists of nine cats, a dog, and six chooks, who I've thanked out loud for laying me birthday eggs.</p>
So peaceful...So peaceful......
These settled spring days are so peaceful. There's no wind to tire out the gardener or dry out the soil, and the lawns look magnificent. Long may this continue!
Springing nicely into shape...Springing nicely into shape......
The garden is springing nicely into shape. Sunshine streams into the house until late afternoon, and the patios are calm, warm places to sit with a cup of tea and a good book.
Colour co-ordinated cats...Colour co-ordinated cats......
The nine Moosey cats are gorgeously colour co-ordinated - grey, ginger, white and black - and the feline feeling in the house is mellow and settled. Food bowls and sleeping boxes are now shared. But the two ginger boys, Fluff-Fluff and Percy, are still my best gardening cats.
Where is my web-master?Where is my web-master?...
Where is my web-master? He is about as elusive as the male pheasant that shrieks and struts in the wooded parts of my garden. September is nearly over and he hasn't sent out the Moosey September Newsletter. So sorry...
In my September spring garden...In my September spring garden......
I love, love, love being in my September spring garden. Plant growth low to the ground is fresh and green, and the spring shrubs and blossom trees fill the air above with beautiful colour. Yippee!
So many lovely flowers...So many lovely flowers......
I've just been for a walk in my garden with camera, fluffy ginger cat, and red Border Collie dog. There are so many lovely flowers out - I can choose any colour and find it blooming somewhere, even if on a small scale.
No grumpy Head Gardeners, please...No grumpy Head Gardeners, please......
Let the very last September gardening weekend begin. And may it stretch out and keep the Head Gardener warm and busy, and please don't let her be grumpy at the end of each day.
I could promise to weed every day!I could promise to weed every day!...
At the beginning of a brand new spring month gardeners are supposed to wake up full of new ideas and resolutions, feeling fresh. How to make a good start to October? I know - I could promise to weed every day!
Ouch!Ouch!...
I've had a slow start to the gardening month - no sore knees, no sore hands, but no accomplishments either. Ouch - it's time to put that right! And if I feel like being dreamy and repetitive - well, there's always a little light weeding!
Gloom descends on the nation...Gloom descends on the nation......
The weekend livens up with nor-west gales, resulting in much tree damage to clean-up. Gloom descends on the nation (and the sports-fan lurking in the Head Gardener) as the All Blacks lose their quarter-final match at the Rugby World Cup. Vive la France! Aargh!
Garden gaps...Garden gaps......
My Crab-Apples and Apple trees are now spring-blossoming. The local plant nurseries are full of beautifully bright flowering Azaleas. My garden has so many gaps which are just the perfect size for a splash of Azalea colour...
Annoyed!Annoyed!...
I am so annoyed with my home-made compost. I love the pansy and forget-me-not seedlings in it, but the other dozen or more weedy species are not welcome. It's time for a sacrificial hoeing session.
Please, no more gale force winds!Please, no more gale force winds!...
There's more spring blossom, the first aquilegias and irises are out, and my main troupe of rhododendrons are ready for their festival of flower. Mid-spring is beautiful in my garden - but please, no more gale force winds!
ItIt's Labour Weekend......
It's Labour Weekend, when the vegetable garden is traditionally planted in my province. Hmm... So that spring frost we had last night was our last for the year? I jolly well hope so!
Spring changes...Spring changes......
My spring garden is changing every day, with new flowers discovered. Walking past the patio Wisteria I am delighted by the fragrance - I didn't know that Wisterias did this! What a splendid spring climber - though rather difficult to capture in a photograph.
Nude rhododendrons - aargh!Nude rhododendrons - aargh!...
More and more of the rhododendrons in my garden are in flower. Later this week I'll be busy visiting some 'proper' Azalea and Rhododendron gardens. Nice - but I hope the strong winds have left some flowers on the shrubs. Nude rhododendrons - aargh!
Vegetable seeds and seedlings...Vegetable seeds and seedlings......
Right. It's the end of October a mid-spring month in my garden, and my vegetable seeds and seedlings are still not planted. My lettuces are busting out of their containers, desperate for soil and space.
Back from the garden tour...Back from the garden tour......
I'm back from the garden tour with my head full of rhododendrons and azaleas. And lush green gardens, with decent rainfall, and no wind - neatly trimmed edges, freshly mown lawns, smiling hostesses serving yummy afternoon teas...
My lawns are disgraceful!My lawns are disgraceful!...
My lawns are disgraceful! Of course, I have just returned from a garden festival - I am now used to seeing beautiful lawns as well as beautiful rhododendrons. I will have to have words with NGP - Non Gardening Partner...
DonDon't grump!...
I'm allowed to write lots and have extra journal pages this November, as long as I work hard in the garden and don't grump about sore hands or knees. And there are so many lovely flowers to take photographs of.
My roses...My roses......
Oh dear. It's already the second week of November - these pre-summer gardening days are rushing by. Many of my roses are starting to flower - I forget how beautiful rose blooms look against the fresh green foliage.
I reckon itI reckon it's summer......
I reckon it's summer. It's suddenly time for no socks, compulsory sunhat, sunblock, and retreating inside in the middle of the day. Maybe mad dogs go out in the midday sun but Englishwomen - well, born-in-England gardeners - certainly don't. Think of their English rose complexions!
Flower colour...Flower colour......
My garden is full of flower colour from aquilegias, irises and pansies. Foxgloves everywhere are almost flowering. Lots of beautiful roses have started blooming, too. Yippee - it really is summer!
ItIt's fun having a deadline......
Each day I titivate another messy area, weed another border, shift something, plant something else, uncover a precious plant, rip out a poor doer - all to get the garden ready for the visiting group of choral ladies. It is such fun having a deadline, for once!
Three days at a rose festival...Three days at a rose festival......
The summer garden visit is looming - just four more days! And I'm heading off south with a gardening friend to spend the next three days at a rose festival. While I'm away the weeds had better not decide to have a home-alone party!
Back to reality...Back to reality......
The phrase 'Back to reality' can have such a gloomy edge to it. But for a gardener it's positively nice to relax back into the boring, mundane, everyday tasks - like cleaning up after the tree fellers. Tree fellas? Hee hee...
Little things matter a lot...Little things matter a lot......
At the end of the gardening month little things matter a lot - like planting out the seedling annuals, clearing out the spring forget-me-nots, staking the tomatoes. These could all be done next month - oops! That's nearly tomorrow!
Lots of natural rainfall, please...Lots of natural rainfall, please......
November was a brilliant month for my irises. Now I'm hoping that December will be equally brilliant for my roses. I'd like to order in lots of natural rainfall, and not too much wind please...
Flowery writing...Flowery writing......
Flowery writing for a flowery garden - colourful prose, colourful borders... Garden journal writers do take themselves so seriously at times!
Make a list!Make a list!...
Ha! My favourite non-canine garden helper will become available this weekend, and the weather forecast is good. I have lots and lots of fringe-gardening jobs for him - where to start? Aha! Make him a list!
Summer is here...Summer is here......
Summer is here. Roses and annuals in my garden are blooming, the New Zealand flaxes are in flower, and the sun shines down expectantly on the Moosey pond, subject of a most serious beautification plan.
Yippee! The weekend!Yippee! The weekend!...
Yippee! The weekend! I love starting a new journal page for the weekend. Every possible gardening verb will have a chance in the action - weeding, shredding, chain-sawing, digging, mowing, planting, mulching, dead-heading, pruning...
Preparatory weeding?Preparatory weeding?...
I've just spent a furious hour doing some preparatory weeding. What is this gardening task? You may well ask - my intention was merely to pick some delphiniums and pink roses for the house.
Will I get my Christmas gardening done?Will I get my Christmas gardening done?...
It's the weekend before Christmas - will I be able to get all my Christmas gardening done? I still have sale plants (roses, and perennial geraniums) to find garden places for, and my vegetable garden is a semi-disgrace.
Christmas WeekChristmas Week...
Merry Christmas from the summery Moosey Menagerie - cats, dogs, chooks, sheep, lovely relatives, lovely Non-Gardening-Partner, and the Head Gardener. Have a very happy Christmas, with lots of warmth, peace and joy.
ItIt's serious being Head Gardener......
Having floated around my garden for the last few days in a holiday mood, it's time to return to my serious post of Head Gardener. I can listen to the summer cricket (the game, not the insect!) while I weed and trim.
New Years EveNew Years Eve...
I can't believe how fast time goes - molto allegro, whenever I peep at the calendar. It's the last day of the year 2007, and there are so many things in the garden I've still not done. But wait - what about all the things I have done?
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