impatience

What, me - impatient?   I got really impatient at the slow growth of the Grevillea ‘Moonlight’. It didn’t seem to understand my need for it to get going and cover the fence.  Preferably before October 22nd, when the garden will on show. I don’t think there’s anything particularly attractive or interesting about a fence.

In a blog we gardeners have the power to direct the eyes of the viewer to whatever scene we want people to see. With actual non virtual visitors to the garden I will not have that protective shield.

Yikes, what have I done?

Looking back at this blog, I discovered that it was in February 2009 that I decided to get rid of the cubby because it was falling apart and was getting dangerous. I suppose I also was tempted to acquire more space for plants, otherwise it could have been rebuilt.



Two years down the track and the space where the cubby was still is not completely filled.



There’s definitely been progress since 2009.



My impatience seemed justified when I learned from a guru at Kuranga Nursery that G. 'Moonlight' didn’t like shade, unlike G. shiressii, which did. So I immediately trotted home with 3 pots of G. shiressii.  I’d never heard of this plant. The label tells me it’s a rare species of grevillea with lush, lance-shaped dark green foliage, and greenish-blue flowers in spring and winter. Let’s hope rare doesn’t mean it’s going to be a fuss pot.

I moved one G. 'Moonlight' to a sunny spot, and asked it nicely to please grow a lot in the next 3 months. I kept the other 2 G. ‘Moonlight’  where they were but planted 2  G shiresii. close by.

 I also added a new pittosporum silver sheen to add to the established hedge. It’s much smaller than its neighbours so I also asked it politely to get a move on. And gave it some nice compost to encourage and reward it.


It’s looking good – potentially good, when things grow higher. This last photo manages to hide the bare spaces and lack of height. Grow, babies, grow …

Comments

  1. Always agree with making enough more space to enough more plants.

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  2. loved your Paul Auster quote. So relevant to the type of garden you build and the way you garden espouse. It would be a great statement to havre at the entrance to your garden when the visitors come on October 22nd?, It would certainly hightlight the philosophy you espouse of a garden as continual work in progress.

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  3. I hear you! I'm sending happy thoughts to help your plants grow in time.

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  4. I'm sure with all the other lovely spots in your garden to drool over, your visitors will be very happy they came by. You know they might not look at this area with quite the same eyes as you. I myself think it's lovely.

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  5. Stop worrying Catmint (easy for me to say) You have nearly 3 months of growth to come - itis amazing what a plant can do in that time - but then you know this really don't you ! I agree though that we never show our rough bits on our blogs, always the bits that are behaving. Like your cubby, unusual shape, shame it had to go, but then serious gardeners want all the space they can get. Your babies will be fine !!

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  6. The Leonard Cohen quote you have on your sidebar - seems to cover this nicely. Nice in the sense of finely adjusted ...

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  7. I hear you, catmint, and my garden gets the same urgings! Best wishes that the too-small plants fill in fast and healthy.
    I agree that blogging spoils us with our ability to photograph just the best angles of the garden. Visitors would not undergo the same contortions that I do to get the best shots ;-)

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  8. Dear Hermes, thanks for the comment from a fellow plant addict.

    Dearest geegee, that is a great idea,and I look forward to working out how to do it together.

    Hi Tina, I've beamed the happy thoughts to the plants, they are smiling now (it's also raining so that could also account for the smiles)

    Dear Bernie, thanks for the encouragement. You have certainly been through traumatic involuntary changes in your garden.

    Dear Pauline, as a fellow opener I'm sure you understand the cycle of feelings: panic, anxiety, calm, looking-forward-to- it.

    Dear Diana, thanks for reminding me to re-read and re-think that Leonard Cohen quote.

    Hi VW, I laughed when I read your comment. I will let you know if I get any contortionist visitors.

    cheers, cat

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  9. I'm with you Catmint I keep going out to my plants and egging them on too. But then I look at the trees we've planted since arrived here 5 or so years ago and I'm happy!
    The sunshine and rain we are having will encourage, and then soon, it will be spring! and TADA ....

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  10. Oh lol !! Impatience.

    You are suffering from the typical gardener's dilemna. If we buy the perfect plant/tree that will eventually grow to fill the gap and no more, then we have to wait and wait and wait while the perfect plant fulfils our vision. But if we so badly want to disguise a gap that we buy something to provide a faster solution it grows quickly too and outgrows the gap and then we end up pulling it out and re-creating the gap. It's a vicious circle.

    Personally, I think it's looking lovely and you are stressing way too much because the whole garden is so beautiful. Just saying ;-)

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  11. hahaha, i am impatient too. I very well remember grevillea and banksia are the first flowers i was so fascinated with upon my first step to Oz soil. And it was grevillea placed on my birthday cake when a scientist friend gave me a barbeque party in their place at Nelson Bay. How i miss those flowers! I am glad yours did not die as was Autumn Belle's when she said she murdered hers in her latest post.

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  12. The countdown's begun, Catmint...it seems everything's coming together despite the frustrations.

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  13. Garden visitors are always very kind about the 'not quite as perfect as we'd like it' bits of the garden, so try not to worry too much about the gap...gardens are always a work in progress anyway! :)

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  14. dear Serena, yes the weather is certainly good for plant growth.

    Thanks Lynne, thanks for the encouragement.

    Hi Andrea, I do love grevillea flowers but I may well follow Autumn Belle's example in time.

    Hi Faisal, yes, thanks I think it is starting to come together

    thanks NG, really helpful and wise comment.

    Cheers, cm

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  15. It looks beautiful to me. Dont worry, your gardens will be wonderful to tour in time...

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  16. Im impatient too! Looking at my tiny feijoa i wonder why i didnt buy them bigger but patience is something i must continually teach myself so they are a lesson for me :)
    Once your trees take off that space will be full in no time and youll be looking at other places to plant...
    And I loved your showcase on Bless! Everyone deserves a garden.

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  17. I'm glad you commented on my blog because it meant I found yours! I'm looking forward to reading more.

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