Crocosmia

Feeling slightly better today, and my back isn’t quite so painful.

My sister came over for lunch, and I gave her a tour of all the removal boxes etc in the house and also the garage. If my recovery from feeling unwell continues, I hope to make a start on getting straight in both house and garden at the weekend. I have a realistic plan of action, and am not being too ambitious - achieving even a little each day is progress. The gutters, soffits and fascias need a professional clean very soon ready for autumn/winter. After dealing with the contents of the boxes and putting things into their permanent places I would like to get the electrical, plumbing and tiling work done in the autumn, and the decorating and flooring completed by the spring. Then I can begin to focus on the garden at the right time of year, and hopefully get the “summerhouse” (grand name for what will have to be a relatively small affair) constructed and sorted out internally. I’m excited about it all, but determined not to make it a burden by being impatient and creating needless stressful deadlines - had quite enough of those!

I don’t know if the Crocosmia (montbretia) in my blip was deliberately planted in the garden. It is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive non-native species. Although not banned from sale, it is an offence to plant or cause these to grow in the wild in England and Wales, and gardeners possessing them should undertake measures to control them. Mine have not spread at all, and although these have gone a bit past their peak they’re still a gorgeous vivid orangey-red against the green sword-like leaves.