January Update

JANUARY

NEW YEAR, NEW HOME, NEW GARDEN.

Floral offerings are few and far between in January, with the brave snowdrop shouldering much more responsibility than one feels its delicate and fragile looking stems and flowers should be able to carry. Tougher than they look and left to their own devices in part shade, they can naturalise and bulk up quickly, particularly if planted in the green straight after flowering. The cultivated varieties offer a larger sized bloom and a myriad of detailed variations, but there’s something incredibly charming about the common snowdrop Galanthus nivalis found on many a woodlands edge. I’ll be planting more at the field end of February under some of the deciduous hedging to give me ample supply to play with next year, including Galanthus elwesii (pictured below) and the double flowered Galanthus greatorex ‘Dionysus’. Perhaps this is the beginning of becoming a galanthophile?

Another obsession to add to the list!

We’ve moved! With the help of a brilliantly efficient and careful moving company, we’re now happily starting to settle in to west London, with walks to the river offering a break from gently unpacking the pile of boxes that inhabit every room in the house. I think the thrill of now being in a house after decades of flat living will take its time to subside - the joy of running up and down stairs has never been more real!

With this new house comes not one but two small garden spaces for us to design and create. In their current state, they’re an excellent blank canvas - the front a hard landscaped south facing sunny spot, the back north facing, shady and cool. Leaning in to what’s most suitable in both places, a Beth Chatto inspired dry garden at the front and a shady woodland at the back, complete with a studio for ceramics and flowers. The back garden is currently an open space flanked by evergreen shrubs - choiysa and a skimmia to match the one my mum bought us that we’ve brought with us from Forest Gate, so I think with a simple design and smart plant choices we can’t go far wrong. Although we’re going to take our time with it, we feel clearer on the vision for the gardens far more than the house, so I think it’ll  be where we’ll start work once we feel like we’ve got time and capacity. More to follow this year.

Above: The back garden in its current state

Below left: Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’, Below right: Choiysa ternata

I’ve been taking a conscious break from sharing online this month, feeling it was the perfect time of year for a circuit breaker and some time to reflect and plan for the year ahead. I can sometimes feel a self imposed pressure to create and share at a pace that works for some of my talented friends and peers, but I know I always do my best work when I’m relaxed and feel like I have headspace, energy and clarity, something which I’ve felt there wasn’t tonnes of this month with the balance of other elements of life. 

Entering February gingerly, like a creature emerging from hibernation, I’m ready to slowly rev up creatively. January has been far from quiet behind the scenes - moving, continuing to tour, planning floral designs for clients and couples alongside consolidating aims for the land for this growing season has meant this year is already feeling full, varied and vibrant. 

Thanks for reading.

© Andy Monaghan. All rights reserved.

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