These winter months can seem endless for the keen gardener, having to stay off of soggy beds and frosty lawns and putting up with the short days.  But this is an invaluable time to rethink parts of the garden.

I usually do a brutally honest critique in August when my memories of the garden at its peak are still clear in my mind.  And I make notes in my garden diary throughout the season…..”try this next year”… and “ get rid of that; it’s hopeless!”… and even “that was super; do it again!”

We have finally run out of flower bed space, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t still try new things.

New plants to try in an established garden are a bit like the real estate market where the saying goes ”Death, Divorce and Debt” create opportunities.  Only, in gardening it’s more like Death, Disease and Disappointment…

I regard them all as opportunities for trying something new.  And I shall be doing that again this year, trawling the internet and placing my orders.

Hope springs eternal in the gardener’s breast.