Winter notes
Of fostering cats, pruning roses, and signs of new growth
January and February, despite being months of rest, have somehow flown by.
Just before Christmas, we started fostering two adorable 8-month old cats, Coco and Momo, on behalf of a local association dedicated to promoting cat sterilisation. They also rescue kittens and other cats in need, and run a vegan "cat café", where we found our beloved Neo, and a charity shop to raise funds for vet bills and other expenses.
In January, their regular cake supplier unfortunately closed down. Since I have a passion for baking, I offered to bake a few cakes and biscuits to help keep the café running smoothly.
Coco and Momo are sisters and they were feral, so wary of humans. After a week of hiding under a cabinet, shy and guarded, they became more and more trusting and affectionate, until they played with us and purred with contentment when stroked.
Coco was adopted a couple of weeks ago, while this Saturday Momo is going to become a resident cat at the café, where hopefully she'll have a better chance of being noticed and find a home.
I thought I'd be okay fostering, but I wasn't.
When we put Coco in the carrier to take her to her new family she was scared and distressed; I looked into her eyes and felt her fear, her confusion for being uprooted yet again, just when she was starting to feel at home.
I cried when she left, and I'm still emotional every time I think about her.
I know she's now in a good home and she'll soon settle, but I can't help feeling heartbroken for not keeping her with us.
On Saturday, I will go through the same experience with Momo, and I'm already bracing myself to cope with the sorrow and guilt of upsetting her and causing her pain.
I'm glad we could help these two lovely cats, and that we tried fostering, but unfortunately I don't have the emotional strength to do this again.
I wish more people would consider adopting rescue cats, and dogs, instead of spending money on purebreds.
If you are thinking of bringing a pet into your home, please visit a local rescue centre and adopt. And if you haven't had your pets sterilised yet, please make sure to do so.
In January I let the garden rest but come February I knew that I needed to prune my roses.
I have 12 climbers, 39 shrubs, and a hedge of 12 rosa rugosa. Luckily, the latter only needs a light cut, but pruning 51 roses is quite a task.
Every year I feel overwhelmed just thinking about it, and wonder why on earth I planted so many roses...but once again the garden reminded me of the power of small steps, and of taking action.
The more I put off pruning, the harder the task seemed, like with any other chore really, but once I started I quickly found a pleasant, soothing rhythm, and remembered all the wonderful blooms that come June will fill the garden with beauty and heavenly smells.
In the end, it only took me a few afternoons to do the pruning, so there was absolutely no need to feel overwhelmed! I just had to start somewhere, and focus on the task at hand, one step at a time, until the job was done.
I recently learned that climbing roses are actually best pruned at the end of autumn or beginning of winter, when the canes are still rather supple and easy to bend and train, so this year I plan to prune all the climbers between the end of November and December, and see what happens.
I also found out that some David Austin shrub roses behave as short climbers in warm climates, like here in the Limousin, where the summers are rather hot.
I have three of such roses: Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, and Emily Brönte. They're all beautiful roses but in a couple of years they have completely outgrown the space I originally thought they'd need in the garden.
The wind often damages their long canes so I've decided to train them around obelisks, which will support the roses and add height and interest to the garden.
I also plan to train a few more climbers around large obelisks rather than over the rectangular trellis I originally used, transforming flat horizontal features into repeating pyramidal shapes that will add rhythm, and an airy feel, to the garden.
My wonderful husband is making the obelisks using rebars; so far he's made two, and I quite like them.
I'd like to decorate the top in some way, and I might find something at flea markets and garage sales. I'm thinking ceramic door knobs, or some kind of metal object I can turn into a finial.
The snowdrops from two years ago have bloomed, and they're slowly naturalising.
The spring bulbs I planted last November are beginning to flower too. I discovered that I adore crocuses, especially purple ones, so this coming autumn I intend to plant more of them around the garden, in the hope that they will naturalise. Crocuses are short lived but I find them enchanting, and bees love them - one more reason to plant then in large quantities.
It was my first time planting dwarf irises, and their beauty impressed me; again, they're short lived but absolutely stunning.
After its long winter rest, the garden is finally waking up and every day I discover new signs of growth: tender leaves are unfurling on the twisted willow, buds are swelling on the ornamental cherry trees, catkins gently sway from hazel branches, and the Japanese quince is flowering.
The first daffodils and hyacinths are almost ready to bloom, and new leaves are appearing on the roses I just pruned. I even spotted a lizard scurrying over a wall, looking for a sunny spot.
Cranes have already begun to head back north, and I was lucky to spot them a few days ago - watching them fly and hearing their call is always a magical experience.
Soon I will tackle the pond and the area around it, which is in sore need of weeding. I'll also move a few plants, sow some annual flowers and vegetables, and mulch the flower beds with wood chips.
Another cycle of growth is about to start, and I look forward to enjoying every single moment.
P.S. Below is a list of vegan cakes and biscuits I made for the cat café; these are trusted recipes that always turn out well, so I thought I'd share them with you.
Pumpkin muffins (I add chocolate chips)
Shortbread biscuits (I add finely grated lemon or orange zest to this recipe).
A lovely Monday read. 🙏🏻 What beautiful cats, it sounds like a wonderful organisation. 🙌🏻 xx