Wednesday 24 February 2010

Boing!


This is the sound of me bouncing back. The best thing about having a low boredom threshhold is that I get fed up with being down. So no more wallowing in a trough of despond. It's up and at 'em, once more unto the breach dear friends and all that jazz. So the forecast for Saturday is -6? I laugh in the face of such silly prophecy. I imagine Canadians saying " -6 (or whatever that is in fahrenheit) zut alors, let's take off the snowchains and wheel out the barbie, cheri."
While not quite that foolhardy, I got my new roses planted yesterday before the latest blizzard reached us. I know, roses, how passe, but they'll look lovely with my infra-dig dahlias and gladies. I'm hoping to have lots of flowers for the house this year. We used to grow rows of dahlias, chrysanths, sweet peas and gladioli for the offices before the bean counters took over, and I find I rather miss them. So I'm going to have a fifties style patch to the side of the house and hope it will draw the eye away from the oil tank.  A trellis of Sweet pea Miss Wilmott in fiery shades, behind massed battalions of gladi and cactus dahlias with a few incurved chrysanths and some cream coloured sunflowers to soften the whole. You may well reach for your migraine tablets, but don't worry, the best laid plans gang aft agley. Be warned though, I'm quite good at catching the zeitgeist and those of a nervous disposition might wish to invest in some serious sunglasses.
Round the back of the house will be more restful, with white Cupid's Dart, blue amsonia, monkshood and asters joining Excelsior foxgloves which seperate the  fruit trees from  the woods. Gardening beside a rabbit warren is a bit of a challenge, so we'll just have to see what survives.
Down at work, in the walled garden, the Future Jobs Scheme lads have prepped the ground for what will be a small demonstration kitchen garden. There had been problems finding a designer, so I sketched a plan based on a sort of celtic knot, and it's been passed by the landscape architect. The lads have chosen varieties and started sowing to-day. This is a project very dear to my heart, so I hope that Fiacre, the patron saint of gardeners, will help it be a success.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Isobel, First, and most importantly, I am so glad that you are feeling more yourself and are back in a positive frame of mind. I am taking you off my worry list!!

Secondly, this posting is pure magic: amusing, entertaining and written with great style. As for the 1950s retro look that you are going for, I am with you all the way - all those glads, dahlias and vibrant colours. Cath Kidston, eat your heart out!

I was interested to read about the demonstration garden at work, designed by you. Excellent! A celtic knot is very appropriate and I know that St. Fiacre will look down upon it kindly.

The Idiot said...

Welcome back!

On a more serious note, we have a patron saint? That's good, because I usually beseech St Jude, the patron saint of lost causes!

The only bit of religion I remember from my youth is the prayer; St Jude, help of the hopeless, aid me in my despair!

My Father used to ask me regularly, "Did you say YOUR prayer this morning?" By MY prayer, he meant, "Oh laziness, did I ever offend thee?"

Bubbles said...

Hi Izzy, great to have you back. I know how you feel, having a 'downhill' week here. I'm convinced it's the weather, the kids think I'm potty - well I am. Anyways reading your blog is of great benefit, makes me feel positively optimistic. Good luck with all your endeavours. Would love to see the flowers in all their glory, they are going to be spectacular. oOo x

Barry said...

Isobel:

Indeed, here in Canada -6 is something to look forward to. I think tonight we are supposed to plummet to -15 or thereabouts. Time for the electric blanket~

I came very close to buying a statuary of St Fiacre but was engaged with a friend who argued that he was not the true patron Saint of Gardening. From what I have researched indeed he is, so hopefully the piece will still be for sale this year!

I love the plan for the retro garden. I love a sudden burst of colour - not so much in my own garden, as in others who are more adventuresome with colours. Amsonia and Aconitum are two of my favourite genera. Have you discovered A. 'Blue Ice,' yet? Dwarf version, but with huge very blue! [darker than most] Do try it if you can find it.

Happy to have you back! Looking forward to future postings!

Is the Wiz said...

Dear All, THANK YOU! The interest and encouragement you've shown has done more than a library's worth of self-help books, and enabled me to submit my design. There is a little part of Scotland now that is forever yours.