I now have a gardener. He is the chap who used to work here for the last owner. There are certain heavy jobs I just cannot do, and giving the Rhododendron a trim was one of them. He took about four feet off the top for me. It took him 5 hours, including all the tidying away of branches, but was money well spent. This cost us £80 - the "quote" I had from the rip-off gardening chap last year was just short of £400!!!!! (That's a "widowed pensioner on her own rip-off price" - he didn't see Keith and thought I was on my own. He gave a similar rip-off price to my friend P, saying it would be 3 days' work to replace a tiny bit of wall. When she said she'd thought about it and reckoned that the job could be done in less time he suddenly had a rethink and dropped the price.) HE won't be darkening our doors again.
The gloomy area behind the pond is very much still a work in progress. I have cleared some of the ivy, removed yet more membrane, and planted one of the rambler roses I bought recently. This one is the white Rambling Rector which will grow up and through the boring conifers. It will tolerate shade - this area doesn't get the sun the whole day. I also planted another rambler, Violette, by the low fence below the other Rhododendron. Easy digging as no bits of house there! I have two more to go, but they will have to go in temporary homes (potato planting bags from last year). One's to go out the front, but I've only just started clearing the area, plus there are two Sycamores to be dropped later in the year, so I may not plant until they're out of the way. An early birthday present from my son has also arrived, a climbing rose called Malvern Hills. I realized when I got back from the garden centre that I had a large enough ceramic planter, but couldn't use it until the tulips I'd planted in it have flowered.
There are lots of Primroses blooming. These are in what used to be veg plots, but will have the surrounds moved elsewhere and Perennials planted.
This is the pear tree I planted last year, nicely established now. I have two pears, two plums, 4 wild Crab Apples, and about 10 apple trees up in the orchard now.
I'll be out in the garden again today. I have to make the most of this lovely weather as apparently a cold spell is due to arrive next week.
P.S. Keep all your fingers crossed, but Keith has a little bit of energy so we are hoping that the Levothyroxine is finally kicking in - he walked across the kitchen and back about 10 times last evening, holding a walking stick for confidence but didn't need it - and with no dragging his foot or tiny shuffling dolly steps. I cannot begin to express the relief I felt. Let's hope it continues . . .
