Time for a (Festive) Rest

I was anticipating finding an hour two earlier in the week to get a few things done in the garden before we headed up to my Mum’s for Christmas – some seedlings rather belatedly pricked out, some compost dug in, wisteria winter-pruned, that sort of thing. Alas no, with visitors and visiting, baking and packing, garden time was limited to rambles alone, and the scaffolding the Golfer erected to cut the uppermost parts of the no longer productive plum tree down remains unclimbed. Various dead ‘stuff’ in borders, of no use to mice nor man nor any other creature for that matter, demands to be removed but remains uncut, and a strong urge to prune all the climbing roses remains unfulfilled. The new crab apple, Malus ‘Evereste’, still stands in its pot, unplanted,  awaiting the removal of the magnolia which it is destined to replace.

All these will have to wait – and despite that touch of sadness at leaving the garden and all its promise of early snowdrops, witch hazels and hellebores as well as the undone tasks I have come to realise and accept that a rest is perhaps quite a good idea after all. Experiencing the novelty of reading an e-book for the first time on yesterday’s train journey further reinforced this notion, although more e-books may need to be purchased! I hope you will all join me in having a happy and restful festive period (with or without e-books!): my very best wishes to you all.

In the meantime, at home the uncut magnolia is carrying out a seasonal task for the last time, a purpose for which it will be much missed…