Preparing for the Garden Ramble

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If you want to rediscover your garden, my advice is to go in the Garden Ramble. Corners that have been ignored, sometimes for years, suddenly demand attention. My poor garden at what was The Cottages will be ignored till post Ramble; apologies to my neighbours as the weeds threaten our dividing fence!

The first area to be developed at the Block around what is now the winery, has been languishing for years. At the time we made the winery our temporary abode. The ground sloped away from the building and in order to create a comfortable outdoor dining area I levelled the area with a rock wall. I used the excess concrete from the concrete floor for a footing for the retaining wall. Box was working on the Chocolate Factory at the time and when the carpark was levelled Clayton and Box sent up a couple of truckloads of dirt which I used for back fill. This provided a level area which slumped a bit over time, and those sitting on the north side of the table sometimes took a sudden unexpected flip backwards.

Many of the plants that circled the area have been moved over to the house with peach and plum trees now taking their place. Weeds have grown up in that area with outstanding vigour. I carefully approached the area with the knowledge that among the weeds some valiant plants may still be surviving. Sure enough, gallantly sending out its arching stems in search of new ground, I discovered my walking iris. Neomarica, or walking iris, has lovely fragrant flowers which last barely a day. They appear at the end of what appears to be a long slender leaf but is in fact a stem. After the flower finishes a new plantlet develops and weighs the stem down to the ground. Small plants have survived and were struggling among the weeds. I was able to spread them around the newly cleared area.

To help with what seems a daunting task I have cajoled, bribed and bullied friends. Jan has been summoned from Cambridge and the minute Dawn leaves the shop I am waiting in the filthy green car ready to whisk her away. I plan what we will do but not one of them takes any notice. I have a tendency to start one area and get distracted by another.

“We’ll do the hill garden today,” I say to Marg as we arrive.

“I think we’ll finish around the plum trees don’t you?” she replies as she gets out of the car.

Dawn ignores me completely and Jan has come all the way from Cambridge to devise her own personal plan. Trimming and clipping are always part of it. Fortunately she stays several days and together we opened up a dark and gloomy area just the under wall.

I had half formed a new path below the wall which was to link two gardens and we decided it will be needed in the Ramble. We levelled the ground and continued the wall. I needed a light plant as a feature because the area below a large loquat is quite dark.

A beautiful peach clivia from Diana at the market has been waiting for a spot in the garden. It takes eight years for clivias to flower from seed and the soft peach ones are beautiful. Just the right colour and form for the spot. Four days to go. I have a list that I cross off as the areas get finished but it just seems to be growing longer. The rain last night was brilliant. I am off to dig out the clivias and transplant them. Another job that was never on the list!

WALKING IRIS: Flower weight causes the stem to dip to the ground where the flowers take root.