Poodle parlour

Posted by Tiggy Salt on April 2nd, 2007

The biggest thing on my plate this week, and consequently the one I have left until last, has been to work up an updated drawing of the garden as it has changed significantly from its initial concept. We now have to fit in some water around the boat and replace the Catalpa trees, which were meant to be for the bedposts, with something else. I’ve also got to add in a door, set slightly ajar into the left-hand lateral wall of the garden, and a pair of shutters into the right to more closely link it with the book.

I’m really sad not to be able to use the Catalpa, as its mop-headed canopy and lovely heart-shaped leaves would have been just right. Unfortunately they don’t really come into leaf until late June, so we would have to try and force them, which really is too big a risk to take. The leaves, having been grown under the warm protection of glass, could go into shock from the change in climate and drop after a few days.

I know this is precisely what the gamble of Chelsea is all about, but with the trees such large focal points of the garden, it really would be disastrous if this should happen. With smaller herbaceous plants, the loss is not so great as they can be replenished during the week to keep everything looking good, but this of course could not happen with these semi-mature trees! So, we are going to have to err on the side of caution and use something less exotic, but more reliable for that time of year.

I have also been struggling this week to tie up all the loose ends of the other, non-Chelsea jobs that I have on my desk, as we have hit April and I really don’t want to be pulled in any other directions until the show is over. I have been assisted in all this by Alfie, who has been uncharacteristically helpful; he even unblocked a drain for me the other day as he loves sticking his nose in right where all the nastiest action is taking place.

As a reward for such good work, I thought I would take him to his favourite shop, Pet Pavilion, for a very overdue grooming session. Here he is after the event looking very pleased with himself and as if he has been tumble-dried. I hope he might stay like this for a bit to justify the huge cost of such folly, but about the only thing I can do to guarantee this is to pray to St Jude, the Patron Saint of Lost Causes!

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