January 2005

I spent very little time in the garden during the first half of January but was delighted when I came back from Tunisia on the 19th to discover that this year Jauary gold had lived up to its name and was in flower. I must lift the bulbs when they are over and plant them in the front garden.

The big task this January has been rerouting the path in the middle of the garden/ that the pampas grass, which was too difficult to move, It was easier to dig up the flowering crab which had been in place six years longer. I just hope the crab approves of its new home. When Ralph and I first made this path about thirty years ago we used thick 2 x 2 slabs. About four years ago my grandaughters and I covered them with pebbles to reduce the weeds that grew between the slabs. Now the slabs are on show again, bedded in the pebbles. I left some slabs in place round the pampas grass hoping to stop it taking over the whole garden

Chris, the handyman who comes in for three hours on Friday mornings, has done a grand job making a smooth arc.