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Moving house is widely recognised as one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, and I can certainly vouch for this after spending the last 4 months trying to sell our home. For gardeners, the whole process can be more traumatic having to say goodbye to a space you’ve lovingly created and to plants you’ve nurtured over time.
It’s a quiet time of year in my greenhouse. During the winter months it mainly functions as a home to a motley collection of plants sheltering from the cold and rain, but there aren’t many signs of life as most plants have entered their dormant phase and retreated under the soil or compost.
Over the last few days, thanks to some thick flurries of snow and frosty mornings, there’s something decidedly refreshing and crisp about my garden. Its structure is laid bare, defined and highlighted by the little drifts of snowflakes or tiny icicles that adorn and clothe the greenhouses, raised beds, metal trelliswork and rusted plant supports.
November is the month when I feel I re-tune and re-focus on the garden as a whole. The majority of the vibrant, in your face, colours of spring and summer that I’m slightly addicted to have finished. However, quite quickly, the rich and nourishing tones of autumn have replaced them.
The clocks have gone back and there’s no getting away from the fact that winter is just around the corner. Much as I love snuggling up in front of the fire, the slow-cooked stews and frosty winter walks, I find these coming months a slog.