That Was A Week, That Was (20-27 February '24)
London tube nightmare, the arrival of Noah's Ark and Paint it Black
20 February ‘24
Love is still very much in the air, as Valentine’s Day fades from our memories, like the romantic blooms of the twelve red roses we were all gifted by our loved ones on the 14th of February! But I’m visiting another special love of mine today, as I head to the annual Garden Press Event, in London. This wonderful event is a celebration of new and exciting products, plants and services in horticulture, and anybody who's anybody is there. I sneak in through the back door!
Being held in London, there’s the added excitement of town boy, heading to the Big City, trying to look cool and sophisticated whilst flailing, desperately to negotiate the tube network. And why is it always me whose smartphone, debit card fails to release the tube station exit gates: bustling commuters tutting noisily and breathing neat frustration down the back of my neck, until I waive the white flag of surrender and step awkwardly out of the queue, flushed red with embarrassment, waiting for them all to pass through. I hate the tube!
Arriving eventually at the event after a protracted and harrased journey, there’s much to see and so many interesting exhibitors to talk to. For many of us, though, much of the time is spent catching up with wonderful friends in the industry, sharing news, gossiping and desperately trying to remember the names of those who come gushing towards you, whilst you attempt to surreptitiously read their names from the lanyard hanging around their neck, name tag lolloping awkwardly over ample bosoms, or manly chests. It can all be quite embarrassing. I much prefer a name tag that sits more comfortably at eye level just below the shoulder. #JustSaying.
22 February ‘24
First day in the garden this week due to heavy downpours of almost biblical proportions. Half expected Noah to ring on the doorbell demanding that Benson & Willow (our furry, feline family) pack their bags ready to board the Ark. All joking aside, it's beginning to feel like it hasn't stopped raining here since the end of July ‘23. I’m sure you must feel exactly the same. Have your toes started to web together yet?
Any road up, I digress….
I treated myself to four stunning hellebores at the weekend which I've been itching to get into the (waterlogged) ground. When the aforementioned torrential rain eventually tired itself out, I rushed out and got them planted tout de suite; I’m delighted to report they look três jolie in situ. Pardonez moi, I’ve gone all Français on you.
6:15pm
Started recording the first of a mini-series of Mike the Gardener (MTG) podcasts, recorded here in my own garden - shift over Monty. They'll be a summary of what’s flowering, what's coming through and perhaps most importantly, what jobs I'm currently doing in the garden (when it’s not raining). I love recording outside, capturing the joyous twittering of birdsong, although here, being so close to Bournemouth beach, it's largely the screeching of raucous gulls (or Bournemouth Bombers as they’re known locally). I need to find a quirky name for these ‘special’ podcast episodes. A distinct lack of inspiration heading towards the brain department, so an encouraging glass of vino collapso is cracked open to set the creative juices flowing.
7:15pm
Creative juices clearly needing more of a ‘kick-start’, so a second glass of Pinot Grigio prescribed. Let's see if that works...
9:30pm
Woke up dribbling onto a grey, velour cushion. Inspiration will no doubt be forthcoming after a good night's sleep.
23 February ‘24
Woke myself up with a name for my podcast mini-series. And the name is…, queue drumroll and extended period of silence (à la ‘Britain’s Got Talent)… ‘Up the Garden Path’. Audience (that’s you!) bursts into spontaneous, rapturous applause.
And, talking all things podcast, my first port of call this morning was chewing the cud with the rather lovely Rob Smith. Yes, of course you know Rob Smith. He's the chap who won BBC TV’s ‘Big Allotment Challenge’ in 2015 and has gone onto write in various magazines about growing your own produce. His new book, ‘Grow to Eat’ is published at the end of March. And for those of you who join my Instagram, live, Sunday Strolls, you’ll recognise the name Darren Lakin. Darren’s a gardener, upcycler and generally rather lovely human ‘bean’ and friend of Rob, and I was delighted when he agreed to join us on this episode. It’ll be published in March so keep a beady eye on my Instagram for details.
The 1966 the Rolling Stones told us all to ‘Paint it Black’, with their sitar based smash-hit, and so this afternoon that’s exactly what I did, painting the peeling, dirty, brick wall behind my Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’. The Stones’ hit referenced grief and that’s what I experienced just hours after the chore was completed, when partner, Peter told me I’d used fence paint that will wash off in the next heavy downfall. Doh!!
25 February ‘24
A frosty start, quickly washed away by, you’ve guessed it, more rain.
We, and our closest friends, headed Famous Five-style with Timmy Blue, the dog, to the Waitrose Garden, aka the Longford Nursery on the Leckford Estate. The garden is currently closed, but the nursery is a plant lovers’ paradise.
I picked up:
Scabiosa ‘Blue Butterfly’ x 1
Geranium ‘Red Admiral’ x 3
Erythronium ‘White Beauty’ x 1, and
Clematis ‘Rouge Cardinal’ x 1
On the way home, driving via Salisbury, we ended up at the rather special, Langton Arms, in Tarrant Monkton. A delicious, roast never tastes better than when eaten in the company of good friends, with an accompanying and obligatory pint of beer, against a backdrop of a cold, miserable, wet, grey, (I’m running out of adjectives), Sunday afternoon. The convivial atmosphere inside the cosy public house soon warmed the very cockles, banishing the gloomy February afternoon to the back of our minds.
26 February ‘24
Another Monday rolls around.
A delightful morning of writing my next article for Amateur Gardening (AG) magazine. I’m never happier, it seems these days, than when I'm writing. All that creative energy (ooh, get him), pouring out onto a blank laptop screen. I’m writing for the 30th March issue, so I'm always thinking a few weeks ahead of where we are now.
I digress; the afternoon was spent planting and watering my new plant acquisitions (see above); I always water new plants, even if it's raining to ensure the soil settles in around the roots. Now is also the time to cut back the wayward, whippy growths of wisteria to two or three buds from the main stem. However, if you’re looking to extend the coverage of your wisteria, as I am in my garden, the long whippy growth can be tied in to take it into the new location (I’m training my wisteria over a new pergola).
27 February ‘24
My late mum’s birthday and another afternoon garden-bound.
Today’s jobs include:
Planting the last of the weekend’s ‘presents’ to me
Watering greenhoused foxgloves before planting out in April
Potting up new dahlia tubers into a peat-free, multi-purpose compost, and watering in. They’ll be left in the frost-free greenhouse until new shoots start to develop.
Pruning back the last of the roses (again, by approximately half)
Now that temperatures are slowly beginning to rise, and daylight hours are noticeably longer, growth in the borders is pleasingly more noticeable. But beware, frosts are certainly not a thing of the past. In the ‘tropical’ south of the country I’ve tentatively sowed a few seeds, but I’ll be getting slightly more adventurous in the weeks ahead, so tune into my next “That Was A Week, That Was’ where there’ll be more great gardening content, along with a healthy dash of humour!
Mike, What a week! As water, water everywhere! And 🍷to forget😆 this weather which still taunts us.
As good seaside gardeners we will have to equip ourselves like sailors. I recommend the diving suit, fins and snorkel to tackle the garden...
All joking aside at the moment, it's difficult to understand all the talk about drought..
Any other subject..
I appreciate your prose and I feel pushed by an invisible force which tells me: you are not going to leave him alone to do his One Man Show, let him say what comes to his mind without reacting!
So first of all,
Don't look for excuses to open a good bottle of wine.
Don't apologize for saying a few words in French, this language is not an insult!
Stop the DIY work and leave this task to those who know... Unless you are taken by the demon of decoration by considering changing colors according to the seasons😅 And then bring someone with you when you go to London, children should never be allowed to take the Tub alone.
Last thing, continue to write, to make us laugh, to teach us, to make us dream.
Thank you, thank you, thank you and bye-bye for now🙋🏻♂️
What a fantastic read, Mike! Such a treat. And, what a week! You couldn't have packed more in! There was a stressy moment on the way to the GPE where I couldn't fathom the Victoria line/Northern Line change and I had to go almost out to come back in, as it made no sense!😅 And I did think about getting contact lenses for the future as it was a strain to (surreptitiously) read people's names on their lanyards. It was lovely to see you, briefly. Moi aussie, love playing with my school girl French and plants, especially new purchases, bring out the je ne sais quoi, mais oui, and all that. Painting fences is my least favourite activity, they just take the life blood out of me! Last year I bought a paint which was really more of a tint, even after 3 coats, not what I hoped for but at least it's protected for now. Love those hellebores, by the way. And love the new Up The Garden Path, worth the dribble on the cushion. Happy Sunday!
Franny