It was my birthday yesterday – a whopping 29. It’s kind of a random number, neither here nor there, but with any luck wisdom and insight will start to trickle in, and make up for the inevitable decay. Hah! Listen to me, I sound like I’m turning 50!
One of the lovely pressies I got was from the lasses at work, it was a great big gardening compendium, full of pics and tips and techniques. I’m well chuffed with it, now I can learn how to complicated-sounding things like separating corms. I love pressies that indulge my latest obsessions. On Saturday I’m also going to buy lots of lovely pots from Liebermanns – I think I’ll look for the wonky ones, which are always a bit more interesting. I’m thinking of using them for chilli peppers and maybe some tomatoes, if my heirloom seeds ever arrive.
This week, in preparation for winter, all the rocket came out from under the roses, and the dill (which had shot up and gone beautifully to seed) was cut back. Mr Khumalo filled the empty bed with Flanders Poppy and Namaqualand Daisy seeds. The bulbs went in as well – the ranuncs in a little bed of their own near the pool and the chinks into a bigger bed under the irises. As soon as the camera is back, I’ll take some pics.
This weekend I’m planning an Total Onslaught against the rose beetles, which have suddenly infested the rose bushes, and are devouring the last of the autumn blooms. In keeping with our no-spray policy, I’ll have to get rid of the buggers by hand – or by foot rather, since the only way to really deal with them is to grind them to a squashy yellow and black paste with the heel of your shoe. I have absolutely no qualms about killing these nasty bugs. When they eat the rosebuds, they’re also killing the habitat of all the little yellow and pink spiders who live in the roses, and those spiders are, without a doubt, my very favourite garden creepy crawlies,
