The Greenhorned Gardener has not abandoned everything – only encountered a clog of busy days, holidays, and disorganised lazy days. But with the new year upon us – it’s time to take the bull by the green-horns and maintain control!
This week at St. Peter’s Community Garden we’ve been repainting our many meters of fencing – a job that is enjoyed by some and hated by others in equal measures. Tuesday might have been wet and grey but Wednesday and Thursday offered pristine winter sun that could not have been better for fence maintenance – in a both physical and mental sense.
The winter months can be difficult at times. Christmas can offer relief – a glittering, bright flower in an otherwise empty garden. In the time that follows Christmas however – there can be a lull that seems at times to be stretching out into the distance – miles of bare earth with a crust of frost stretching out into the far distance. But we have our fences to break this bareness up and to protect us a little from the coldest winds. Because these fences are important, it is a good idea to maintain them, repair them, and paint them whatever colour makes you feel better!
Though the garden might seem desolate and bare at first glance there are treasures still there. Bulbs are beginning to punch through the frost, some tenacious roses are still flowering, and there are visits from all kinds of wildlife (last week we saw a heron by the pond and before Christmas a king-fisher!).
Here’s a simple way to help maintain your fences over winter – it will only take a few minutes and you can do it whilst doing something else.
Think of three things that make you happy in life. They can be anything at all, big, small, important, trivial…
I like the sound of rain on my roof
Seeing the squirrel in my garden makes me happy
I’m thankful I have clean drinking water
Sometimes it might be more difficult to think of something but hopefully your fences will soon feel more resilient to the weather and when the winter sun shines it will get a little more appreciation.