Hi,
It has been a while, like nature I just want to sleep in the Winter and hide away. This time I didn't get to as I started working behind a bar so yes that was new as well as my admin job. I even worked most of Christmas and on New Year's Eve that was a first as I have always had Christmas off work. We have lost a few houseplants, but causalities are expected when the false heat is switched on as its very dry air, the lack of daylight and my shady watering routine. I barely know how to look after myself during Winter, some how I manage to care for two teenage boys and around 200 indoor plants. I also took on the role as Treasurer at a local gardening club so much of my January and February has been about reconciling the accounts. I passed them over to the accountant yesterday so that is a relief or it will be once I know that I have done them correctly.
This Winter the outside plants haven't faired too well, we had some terrible frost days and the plants did not like it. Those in sheltered positions seemed to be ok, but those in exposed positions not so much. The mulch really helped I think as all of the plants we gave some support to have done Ok. We used bark as mulch and a lot of it has broken down over winter.
We did a spot of propagation over Christmas as my former mother in law kindly brought me a sprig of mistletoe that was abundant with berries, which are the part that is needed to propagate mistletoe. It actually needs a host as mistletoe is a parasitic plant, so we went shopping for one. There are only a few trees or shrubs that are suitable to be a host Oak, Hawthorne, apple, poplar or lime. I think the Maple tree can also act as a host. We purchased an apple tree a young golden delicious variety it was only £9. Can you believe it? £9 for a tree that will hopefully become a host to mistletoe (it can take up to a year to see any germination) and produce fruit for generations to come. If it likes the fact that it has a parasitic plant stuck to it that is.
While researching all about mistletoe we realised its steeped in history and tradition and even though its highly toxic (maybe I should of worn gloves while propagating) it's used as an alternative medicine in cancer treatment and was used typically for cardiovascular issues in the past. I've read that it kills cells and somehow it triggers the human body to attack the bad cells put in simple terms. I suspect like any medicine it wont be suitable for some, but it will work for others. A lot of it depends on your belief system anyway.
The snowdrops are out, some primrose, crocus, tulips, and the narcissus are starting to show up out there. As soon as the trusted daffodil trumpet flowers signal Spring we are off. We did actually see some open ones yesterday, but these ones are probably the ones that get tricked with that false spring we usually have in the UK. I have seen more insects around so that is a good sign that Spring is actually just around the corner. We leave the garden to be it's natural ugly self (it drives us mad) until Spring really arrives just in case there are some insects sheltering in amongst our plants. We saw a ladybird the other day in a hollowed out flower stem that the gardener had kindly left for the ladybird to shelter in. Ladybirds and other insects don't wake from their winter slumber until around March. So we have just a few more weeks before we can set to work in the gardens.
We had fun growing an amaryllis bulb over Christmas, it really helped with the usual decline of mental health that we experience in the Winter months. Having something new to care about and watch grow was immensely joyful. We planted three, gave two away and it was lovey keeping in touch about their progress. They produce the most incredibly beautiful flowers that become very top heavy and fall over so they need support.
We also did our first oil painting, we had one of those possessed moments where we felt inclined to paint and that is what the picture is of. We have been painting a bit more lately and we really need to get back to the writing. We have two books started and a third story idea plus I thought I might like to change the ending of my first book and add more to the second. Then write the third and fourth book and consider writing the fifth. Sometimes I ask myself if I am completely mad lol then I think maybe you have to be to survive in this world.
Anyway I best go and get ready I'm off on a trip today with the gardening club to a garden. We shall tell you all about it next time.