I’ve been back from China for 6 days and still the jet-lag drags on. At about 3pm every day my vision starts to blur and I begin to feel overwhelmingly tired. It’s because my body thinks it’s 11pm, which is almost past my bedtime. Then in the morning I am wide awake at about 5am. Experience suggests that this disorienting phenomenon, and the horrible hollow feeling that accompanies it, will quickly pass. I should be back to normal within a day or two. In the meantime I don’t feel at all inclined to venture outside in this bitter northerly wind to tend to my garden, despite having two enormous boxes of bulbs left to plant. Tomorrow I will muster the energy to tackle jaded gingers and decaying dahlias, sweeping them away to create some much needed space and order on the terrace.
What’s driving me on is the sight of my nerines. As I predicted, those I left in full bloom four weeks ago are still looking terrific. Whilst some of the named varieties are past their best, common-or-garden Nerine bowdenii is looking splendid. The candy pink flowers provide such a boost to my morale on dark, dreary November days. I can’t think of many outdoor bulbs that provide so much flower power at such an unpromising time of year. Nerine bowdenii‘s simple brilliance reminds me that so often plain, unadulterated species are the best and easiest option for gardeners wanting to make a big splash. Nerine bowdenii bulbs are inexpensive, readily available and undemanding, provided they are planted somewhere warm, sheltered and well-drained. What they pay back in terms of pleasure and excitement as the year draws to close is immeasurable. A genuine sight for sore eyes.
Categories: Bulbs, Flowers, Photography, Plants, Uncategorized
Welcome back! The Nerines are stunning.
I hope you get familiar very soon with your time zone again 🙂 It’s good to be back home, isn’t it? Despite the fatigue and early mornig wake-up your Nerines are giving you such a great reward – they look stunning! Greetings from windy and rainy Poland.
It’s great to be home Paul. I hope all is well with you?
Thanks Dan. I am fine, a little bit in the “autumn blues”, but everything is OK . November is usually grey, windy and”rotten” here. I miss the warm and sunny summer time, but in a couple of weeks it will be Christmas 🎄 again. 😊 To change my mood from a bit gloomy into more cheerful, I ordered some great new hellebores from Germany. They are from the Heuger’s Gold Collection: Madame Lemonnier , Shooting Star, Cinnamon Snow, Merlin (h.hybridus ) and Gold Marie (h.niger) which is already starting to bloom . They have already been planted in my garden and my eyes are smiling at them😊. Have a great Sunday without the jet lag symptoms. Greetings, Paul.
Good lucky with the jet lag. It took me a couple of weeks to get over Ireland and now the time is going to change and I’ll start all over. You certainly have flower power, and I’m glad you shared it because I’m in the land of crispy brown leaves right now. 🙂
Oh no! Your season is so short in New England. I still have all my tender stuff outside, but I really must start bringing it in!
What stunning blooms happy they are brightening your days! I get the worst jet lag coming home…I am still thinking about the plastic flowers at JL …such fun!
They were! I loved them so much. Sadly my own garden looks a little bedraggled now. It needs a lot of TLC!
How curious – I’ve never seen nerines before, that I know of. The blooms look very like honeysuckle to me. Gorgeous!
They are just that! Hope you have caught up with yourself. I have been catching up with you, sorry I’m late. 🙂
Don’t apologise Gill! The building works are taking over my life, leaving very little time for anything else. I am not keeping up with anything or anybody at the moment! Roll on 2017 I say.
It will be worth it in the end, I am sure x