Waging war in the flower border

 

An accurate weather forecast today saw N and I up bright and early, out in the garden.  We were waging war on a plant that turned into a bit of a thug.  A few of years ago we bought a small, neat acanthus spinosa, and all was well for a year or so.  However, we soon realised that it was way too big for where it was planted and we eventually dug it up.  What we didn't know was that it propagates by root division, and every little bit of root left in the ground happily and very quickly sent up new shoots.  Soon the little border was peppered with acanthus leaves, shooting up through the other plants.  No matter how assiduously we tried to dig the shoots out, more sprouted elsewhere.  It became clear that the only thing to do was to dig the whole border out.  And that's what we did this morning.

It's certainly a tough plant, with really meaty tap roots going right down into the subsoil.  We have removed as much as we were able to, but suspect there may be a few bits left behind.  We shall be very vigilant if any leaves dare to show their faces again - this is most definitely war!

Having lifted all the other perennials whilst we dug the roots out, I took the opportunity of tidying the border up, lining the stachys (lambs' ears) through the middle of the border with clumps of muscari (grape hyacinths) along one edge.  That leaves plenty of room for N to replant the daffodil bulbs to flower next spring.  The old lavender bush has gone; it had become quite woody, and as I have two cuttings from last year and the four I took a few weeks ago, I decided the parent plant could be sacrificed.

Before . . .

. . . and after.

It was a good morning's work and it was good to be in the autumn sun.

Although we have managed to fill the new raised beds with soil and compost we already had in the garden, N felt they would benefit from a top dressing of manure so we took a trip to a local garden centre for some organic farmyard manure that was on offer.  I doubt we shall go there again.  It has been extended and has undergone such a transformation that it is now barely recognisable as a garden centre.  In fact, we had to search for any plants; they seem to have been relegated to a small plot at the back.  Now the vast new area is given over to all manner of things completely unconnected with gardening - I even saw knitting patterns on sale!  It seems to have become a 'lifestyle centre', full of 'stuff' that has been mass-produced.  I think 'tat' was the word that sprung to mind.  Sorry, just not our thing at all.  A bit sad that what started as a good garden centre has, if you'll pardon the pun, lost it's roots.

The brassica bed is well-established, although we've not been successful with the late crop of spinach - we think the soil must be too cold for the seeds to germinate

More cooking this afternoon - fairy cakes and melting moment biscuits - and a surprise but welcome visit from little grand-daughter and DIL.  

The wallpaper has dried back well - we are so pleased with it.  When we finally decided, earlier this year, that we would stay put in the flat and try to maximise what it had to offer, we agreed that there were a few things we wanted to do to give it a new lease, and our bedroom and the lounge were two rooms we felt we could improve on.  Two rolls of wallpaper later, and we're well on the way with the bedroom.  We have also decided that the time has come for the carpet to be replaced throughout the flat - it's been down for, we think, well over 20 years.  It's marked, stained, worn and a drab colour, and it needs to go.  A new carpet will lift the whole place and I think it will be money well spent.  We are also mulling over furniture options.  We have a number of pieces of furniture in our loft, left over from past house moves, and we are wondering if one or two pieces may find a new use.  N has taken a few bits to his shed for further investigation.

The weather is getting colder, but we are hoping we can put off turning the heating on until the end of October.  An extra layer is usually all that's needed of an evening, and it's quite cosy, snuggling up on the sofa wrapped up in a quilt.  

Today was another day when I wondered how I managed to find time to work, and why some people say that they'd be bored if they retired.  I don't think I've been bored once since I left work, there's always plenty to do if you look.  Our time is our own, and I hope we have learned to use it wisely and make the most of each day.