I have finally started tidying the public garden that runs around this block of flats. I promised before/after photographs, but I’ve let everyone down on that score. I felt self-conscious enough going out there with my hand-fork, let alone taking photographs to pull out later and use to prove what an amazing gardener I am. So instead I’m adding images which I have borrowed from Getty Images, such as this one which has no bearing whatsoever on this post.
I’ve worked in gardens which are overlooked by the public before, but it never bothered me, because, whether the garden was my own, or one that I was employed to work on, I felt confident in the knowledge that I belonged there. However, this is a job for which I volunteered. Nobody knows anything about me. For all they know I could be completely ignorant about plants.
The garden contains a lot of roses, and quite a few azaleas in various colours, which, although they’re not favorites of mine, look bright and cheerful at the moment.
After a few hours out there I feel more self-assured, as the staff and residents lost no time in making it clear to me that they have complete faith in my abilities,
As anyone who has undertaken a job of this nature will know, the hardest part of the job is carrying on working – without appearing unfriendly – while everybody in the neighborhood stops to talk to you.
My first job is to clear the pesky montbretia (crocosmia x crocosmiaflora) which has claimed large swathes of the border, crushing out many less robust plants, and probably killing some off completely. While this is an attractive plant, my recommendation is to steer clear of it unless it’s the only plant in the whole world that you find attractive.
I make exceptions with some of the cultivars, for example crocosmia Lucifer, a large, showy specimen that brings fire to a display. It doesn’t expand so fast, and is worth doing battle with occasionally, because of its exceptional beauty. Maybe I’ll try and find some.
Although so many plants have been swallowed up by the crocosmia, some attractive perrennials such gladiolus communis, and a lovely royal-blue iris have survived.
Because so many plants have been swallowed up by the crocosmia, I need to put in replacements. I’ll wander around the gardens of friends and family, and beg bits off them. One of my daughters has too much cranesbill, and another has a lovely penstemon which has grown too bushy.
My sister’s garden is stuffed with plants which she wants to get rid of, so that she can grow more veg. I’m going to see her tomorrow to desecrate her garden take some unwanted plants off her hands. She has all sorts of lovely perrennials, most of which were originally put in by me.
The sun is shining and today I feel fully alive.
© Jane Paterson Basil
Making it write 
Go girl.
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What a terrific post. You sound like an old pro! Ccan tell you’re in your element.
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I’m obsessive. In my life I have mastered quite a few skills, but my problem is that once I find something new, I tend to get so gripped that I want to do it all the time. All those inconveniences like eating , sleeping, socializing and so on fall by the wayside. During my gardening phase I’d start work as early as possible, miss lunch, hurry dinner and then work until it was too dark to see, and even then there didn’t seem to be enough time to keep up with my weighty schedule. Running my business was a strain, because all I could think about was gardening, and I rushed home to get on with it. It was normal for me to start at eight in the morning and finish at ten at night, seven days a week, with the shortest possible breaks for shopping, cooking seeing my family and eating. I love gardening.
Then writing took over…
I’m trying to live in a healthier way now, balancing several kinds of activities. Time will tell…
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Well done Jane- you’ll do a brill job. My monbretia actually isn’t a monster, in fact it barely flowers at all, just makes some nice leaves. Have just planted some penstemons – I adore them, and have tried to grow cranesbill from seed this year, though it’s not thriving. What a shame we’re not near neighbours – I took advantage of a magazine special offer and ended up with two dozen foxglove plug plants which are thriving. Problem is, I have a garden the size of a hanky! Maybe I’ll do some Guerilla Gardening down the local park 🙂
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I love foxgloves. Yeah – Guerilla gardening! There must be loads of that in Bristol – you do live in Bristol don’t you? My niece lives there, and she keeps asking me to go and stay with her.
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I haven’t heard of most of these, but then I do live in the deep south. the invading whoosits look lovely. And what on earth is Guerilla gardening ?! do you invade other people’s yards in the dark of night to plant their gardens ?
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Don’t you have guerilla gardening over there? It’s great – you find a patch of wasteland or bare earth, usually in the middle of town, and you plant sunflowers or runner beans, or whatever floats your boat, and if it’s vegetables, anybody who wants to can come and pick them. It’s an eco thing. In some areas local councils encourage it. while in others they don’t like it. Unfortunately, in this locality, the council is unenlightened.
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I’ve never heard of it. Sounds fantastic !
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It is!
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