Come into the Garden

(From Maud, Part I, Alfred Lord Tennyson)

No Maud, not literally, it’s much too cold. I will give you a virtual tour.

This project commenced in August last year and was completed yesterday. Of course gardening is never completed. I allowed the box hedge to die through insufficient spraying against the pervasive, box moth plague. It turns out there are box substitutes that look like box but, I hope, are not to the liking of a box moth – we shall see. Above is Ilex Crenata common name Box Leaf Holly or Japanese Holly. The plants are much too big but London gardeners are used to planting for impatient clients wanting an instant effect. They had laid an extra course of bricks last year as they deemed, correctly, there was not sufficient depth of soil. They also installed a watering system last year that may or may not work. Let’s worry about that in the summer, Maud.

The common name for PtV is Kohuhu. It grows up to twelve feet tall and eight feet wide so I hope it likes being pruned. It is under planted with Liriope Muscari that has a lovely common name: Blue Lilyturf.

The borders of Agapanthus, common name Lily of the Nile, had become rather sparse as Bertie had a tendency to dig them up when he was a puppy. So the original Agapanthus plants have been consolidated under the north wall at the end of the back yard and Erigeron, common name Fleabane, planted beneath the east and west walls. This was done last year, too.

The paving slabs had turned dark green and were slippery, so it was an opportunity to have them cleaned. I do have my own jet washer but the gardeners brought a more powerful, industrial strength model. They also replanted the Hidcote Lavender in a planter in the front garden. It had succumbed to drought last summer. Finally they gave the front hedge a trim. Two hours work for two gardeners – it would have taken me two days.