It's there...somewhere!

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‘Down in the jungle, something stirred’ (apologies to Mr. Kipling). No, not he of the fattening cakes, the literary one! It’s amazing how rapidly mother nature reclaims her own when she’s left to get on with it. Somewhere beneath this tangled verdance there IS a garden, and after what has seemed a VERY long year, the details of which I won’t even assume to bore you, I am at last beginning to rediscover it.
Looking on the bright side, despite the foul and unaccustomedly hard winter we had in Cornwall, most of my favourites, and especially the Daylilies, have come through unscathed. There are some cultivars that are improved by a good hard frost now and then. I am also looking forward to a bumper crop of Blackberries, courtesy of the (still) vacant plot next door which Ma Nature has also gleefully reclaimed, and spread her bountiful skirts over my fence!
By happy accident, or serendipity if you want to be posh, a clump of Briza maxima, (quaking grass) has seeded itself quite liberally between the daylilies and is proving to be a very attractive and amenable companion plant. Not deep rooted, it can easily be winkled out from where it may be growing too thickly.
The giant red poppies (don’t know their varietal name but suspect they may have relatives in Afghanistan) have excelled themselves this year, and eighteen plump seedheads are now ripening at the top of 3ft stems in the glorious sunshine. I plan to gather seeds when ripe, so if interested, give me a shout. Not making any promises, but some of the Daylily clumps are also looking suspiciously in need of splitting.
It gives me great pleasure to report that the badgers have returned to my garden, having found a new way round the mine shaft at the back, over the compost heap and through the fernery. There is now a well trodden path between the poppies and the foxgloves, to the back fence behind the Black Alder tree.
It’s quite possible that the giant stick insects Tarzan and Jane have succumbed to last winter, as I’ve searched in vain for any sign of them. However, being masters of camouflage they’re probably crouched in the twigs of the Weigelia thumbing their little stick noses at me.
Remember the big bindweed fiasco, 22 feet long? By the look of things I may be able to beat that this year. I’ll try and remember not to stand on the blasted thing this time. It IS rather disconcerting to find yourself trying to lift your own weight with a length of bindweed stem!
On that happy and slightly ridiculous note, I will leave you for now, although it’s more than likely I’ve forgotten something I meant to mention. Hopefully when I’m properly ‘into’ the garden again, I’ll resume the ‘Friday Night Wurble’. Longstanding members will know what I’m talking about, and it will be great to hear from you. New members, welcome, and you have that pleasure to come. Hehe!
Bye y’all. Catch you soon.
BBB

p.s My old shed now has a slight list to port (that’s the left for you non-nautical types. I just list when I’ve been ON the port), but Jenny Wren had no problems nesting behind the clock again this year.

• 2 Jul, 2011
• 11 likes

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