Nature : the right choice

A year ago I completed my WRAGS training and began my new life working as a Gardener, that is continuing to garden but being paid for it! Imagine that, being paid to do something I enjoy. I have since been a member of the garden team at Heale gardens and have found other gardens to tend to as well.

This week was a reminder of why I never returned to a desk, post children, and the enormous peace that comes from being outside (except when the machines are going full tilt).

I spent time with a client weeding, cutting back and chatting about her need to make the garden smaller, easier and less maintenance as she grows older and finds the size of the garden too much.

I volunteered at Horatio's garden at the Hospital here and spent time seeing how the garden is evolving and the charity are expanding with even more gardens in more Hospitals, giving patients space to breathe.

At Heale, I was lucky enough to break free of the veg garden for a bit (not that the veg garden is a chore to be in) and cut Willow in the Japanese garden. You have to get in the river for some of the work, pruning Wisteria and cutting Watercress and sending it downstream. Getting in the river and mucking about on a fine Autumn day. Stuff of stories. Of course not all days in the garden are as glorious, cold wet days can be never ending, muddy days even worse so, but a day or two now and again where the sun shines ain't half bad.

We received a rather large bulb order, checked and stored ready for the time we need to plant.

I did do some cropping, our first Leeks 'Little Nipper' and the last of the Courgettes and Beans. Some Salad and Pak Choi. 

The Pak Choi has been great, a purple leafed variety, romping away under fleece. Plus our Aubergines are almost there, a first time growing for me so very pleased with some of them.

The rest of the gardens continues to flourish in the late Autumn sun.

Glorious metallic heads of the Miscanthus coming through and the late flowering Lavandula x intermedia 'Vera' contrasting with Stipa gigantea (my morning view from our bothy).