Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone and may the grass always be green on your lawn and the roses continue to bloom on your patio.

We had a crisis this morning. My beloved Cordyline, with the babies, - no not the Madonna with the big boobies - bit the dust in the massive gale ( or should I say hurricane) we had yesterday. I was gutted.The main trunk broke, I don't think it could support the weight of its upper leaves with the wind rocking it.

Anyway, fortunately I had left the offspring in tact and they are OK and hopefully will grow well to replace the original plant. I hope so anyway. I did really like that tree.

I hate these gardening deaths - losing a plant you really like is akin to losing your beloved cat or dog - if it dies of old age you can somehow cope but if it's unexpected then then difficult. As I write the hailstones are beating on the window and the sky outside is definitely not playing ball considering its new year's day!

Fortunately, I am not planning any garden visits today although I have had my fair share of wandering around stately edifices with neat cut borders under a broad brimmed umbrella.

And talking about borders - I read over the weekend that grasses are going to be oh so out for 2007 and borders are back in! Goody, Goody I say. As a border person myself I am overjoyed at this piece of news. However, if you really do love your grasses you can always take a leaf out of Tom Stuart-Smith's book and combine grasses in your borders. I have seen Tom create some really lovely gardens with borders which use grasses to add structure. So that is the way forward folks.

Welcome to 2007.