5th April.2020 - where have I been?

It is nearly a year since I last wrote and I'm sure you've been wondering what I've been up to.

In March last year I left my job of 7 years, it was a very difficult decision, but I felt in order to move forward I needed to take a leap into the abyss.  I was very lucky to have an interim job to go to, so after 2 weeks off I began a project role.  The role meant that I was travelling a lot and dealing with some difficult issues.  During that period I had somewhat of a realisation that I'd left a job I loved and whilst I loved my new job I had much less security and that threw me into a bit of a spiral.  I was struggling to come to terms with what I'd done and how I would manage at the end of the contract (it ended up being great, because they offered me a permanentjob!) The interim job however resulted in me having less time to go to the plot due  to work but then less inclination to go because of how I was feeling.  On top of that we moved house in September so at a point when I felt I was starting to get back on an even keel I was busy with the new house.  We have only moved 10 minutes down the road so we're not actually much further from the plot, as the cross flies.

Since then we have, of course, entered into this new state of uncertainty.  I work for an organisation that is part of the behind the scenes support of the key workers.  As a result I have been working long hours and unable to get to the plot in the week before the clocks changed.  

We were then told that we couldn't drive to attend our exercise and so I was unable to go to the plot anyway.  On Friday however Matt Hancock announced that people could travel short distances to their exercise so long as they observed all the other rules of social distancing.  On Saturday I had jobs that I needed to do in the garden at home, but planned to go and spend some time at the plot on Saturday.  

When the developers laid the lawn they left a gap between the grass and the fence.  We have lovely Yorkshire clay, which is perfect for weeds to grow and so I set about clearing the area.  I weeded and put a thick mulch of bark chippings down on one section (because that's as much as I had).  I will be ordering more this week because it looks great and will really help to suppress the weeds.  There is one section however that might be a challenge at the back because upon closer inspection it appears the ground falls away behind the fence so I'll need to look at a solution for there.  I really do think the mulch is the way to go so I need to look at how I can stop it falling out behind the fence!

One of the things I had previously worked on is a small bed for a magnolia tree.  It's a medium sized tree (max height around 12 feet), which I have placed in the corner of the garden that is slightly more overlooked by the house behind.  I've always wanted a magnolia so it was a great excuse!! This part of the garden has a slight slope so I had to create a bed that is higher at the front to keep the whole bed level.  I filled it with tree and shrub compost to give it the best start and underplanted with hellebores, tulips and pansies; I then covered in a thick layer of mulch which matches the mulch at the front (and what I've used to edge the law as above).  My garden is mostly grass and Mr L doesn't want me to change it but I'm still considering whether I want to add a border somewhere and I definitely want to include a deck in the bottom corner where it gets the sun until the end of the day.

On Sunday I managed to get up to the plot.  On the way there Matt Hancock said on the news that because of the actions of some people yesterday the Government are going to have to consider whether to stop all exercise outside of the house.  If that happens I won't be able to go back to my plot!!  I therefore spent my time clearing and covering beds.  I have so much to do but my logic was that if I could protect them from getting overgrown in case I am kept away then I'll be in a better position when I can get back there.  

I am still hoping that I can get up there and until they say otherwise I will be planning to spend and hour each evening after work, now that its lighter for longer.  I'm still intending to carry on clearing and covering the beds.  I don't feel like I'll be in the best place to be growing much this season, especially as I got so behind last year.  If I can focus on getting everything up to scratch then I can start fresh next year.  So by the end of this year both plots need to be cleared and prepared for the 2021 growing season.  I will be trying to get back into the habit of blogging and I hope my adventures in clearing won't  be too dull. 

Until next time then...
Stay safe, stay home, protect the NHS, save lives and happy gardening x