GARDENS
ANNA TAYLOR, OWNER OF ANNA’S FLOWER FARM IN AUDLEY END, SHARES WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTH
ith winter mists suspended over fields, frosty cobwebs hanging mournfully and the ground frozen beneath
your feet, January can appear quite poetic and still. But in reality, these are lyrical moments between days of punishing, chilly winds and damp, gloomy gardens that are shrouded by fog. I’ve never understood why we make it even more challenging with new year resolutions that chastise and deny us of rest, comfort and treats. This year, I hope you only make promises to enjoy yourself more, recognise little achievements every day and be kind to yourself and each other. Have a walk, enjoy good food and, most importantly, plan what’s in store for your next gardening season. In inclement weather, I use the excuse of being stuck indoors to review the previous growing season and drool over seed catalogues. I keep notes of the year’s successes and also what can be improved, including a deeper understanding of the soil and micro climates. We grow across four plots and gardens, each with slightly different depths of stony subsoil, with a similarly varying depth of free-draining, sandy topsoil above. Together with rain, shadows from the walls, surrounding mature trees (and their greedy root systems), and varying lengths of direct sun at any given point of the year, there are significant differences in growing conditions across the gardens. We have gardened entirely ourselves this year and I have been able to develop a far better understanding of the ways they function. You see, I believe that successful growing and gardening is more than simply good soil, water and light. It’s about observation – simply checking in regularly and gently assisting, when required. As the years go by,
floating in a shallow bowl of water, where their beauty can be appreciated. Outside, there isn’t much I can do without hindering the garden by walking on the grass and compacting the soil. On a dry, clear day, winter pruning apple trees is a lovely job. Cut out any dead, diseased or crossing branches, don’t prune more than a third of the branches, retain an open shape and tip prune the ends of establishing trees to encourage fruiting spurs. Like many garden tasks, it is a little helping hand at the right time that encourages a generous harvest. These gardening clichés are truisms repeated year after year for a reason. It’s a perfect metaphor for 2021: observe, take gentle care, and add some good sustenance. Wishing you a very happy New Year. Check out the flower subscriptions and Grow Your Own Flowers courses available at Anna’s Flower Farm in Audley End – more details at annasflowerfarm.co.uk
we learn about our space and work with the soil and plants, rather than interfering or imposing ourselves upon them. I aim to have all the productive beds planned this month. It is an enormous task, but I find it so challenging and absorbing that I work on it all at once. When I have my sowing schedules and plot plans, I forget all about it and simply follow them as much as I can. We still haven’t entered the ‘flower season’ – this is when there is an abundance of flowers in the gardens between April and October. But there are still treasures to be found in January, and they take on a special resonance. There are far fewer pollinators, so flowers must work that extra little bit harder to attract them, with richly scented, tiny blooms. I tend to snip a short branch of Lonicera x purpussi – known as ‘Winter Beauty’ – Daphne or Sarcococca to enjoy next to my bed or by the chair. Hellebores are best enjoyed
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C A M B S E D I T I O N . C O . U K
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