Spring is on its way

Symbolised every year by my Japanese Cherry which is in the front south facing garden coming into flower. The buds have been ready a few days but it has taken it time flowering.

Hello garden my old friend, I've come to grow in you again

Last week I made a list of all the things which needed doing in the garden before I could get down to the proper growing season. The list was long and to make myself feel better about it I typed it up and made the font small enough so that the list could fit on one page of A4, since then i have had to add to the list but it was a step in the right direction.

We went up to our local garden centre today, the sun was so bright and warm and the entre is enclosed on three sides by trees so its almost like sitting in a forest. We are quite partial to the meals at the little cafe and today with the sun on our backs, birds singing and some very bumbly bumblebees pottering around while we munched on a toasted snrwich it was heaven. I also picked up the only two packets of seeds i have had to buy this year (tidying the shed and cupboards over winter brought forth a vast array of seeds!), my tomatos, Harlequins for the greenhouse and Maskotka for the pots and hanging baskets.

With bright weather and only a couple of wet spells since last weekend I was itching to get out today. A quick assessment showed that the garden has managed remarkably well over the winter, the main casualties being the greenhouse (plastic ripped beyond patching on south facing end) and the acer which is 50% smaller after one half was broken off by a falling birdhouse. The net around the vegetable patch has been torn in several places allowing cats in which they have taken full advantage of - i am continually frustrated by my garden being used as a cats toilet.

While very understanding husband cleared up all the poo I surveyed the 'green manure' and considered how I would get this dug in most effectively, I grew it mainly in the areas where I knew I would be planting courgettes this year so I am hopeful I will get a much better crop. Until the net is fully repaired I decided I would leave it as ground cover. We then dug out the bottom of the compost bin, a fair amount of mess was made in the process! However the rewards for the garden and for the bank balance are clear to see. We have over the last year created an amazing deep rich loamy compost fit for kings (and their plants). Although some things had to go back into the bin we have about 120liters of compost which is ready to go and a wheelbarrow load ready to be put on what was the flower bed but I am making into a herb garden this year.

I now sitting here feet up with a cup of tea watching the weather forecast to see when I will be able to get into the garden this week to carry on digging and mulching, the lighter evenings are ensuring the plants make the plants make the most of the sunlight. There are several clumps of daffodils coming up and I will have to be careful not to smother the later varieties already planted in the soon to be herb bed. I also want to get rid of all the old leaves on the cordyline and last years growth and seeds which have died back. The borage has seeded almost the entire veg patch, I am hoping to move one or two of the seedlings out of the vegetable patch into deep pots and the herb bed as its a bee magnet!

An Independant Crocus

At least I think its a crocus!

I have a little patch of crocus in my front garden which greet me every year without fail, I have tried to move them out of the various paths into the bed but they prefer the path. This one however has taken it to a whole new level being almost in the steet!

I feel Spring might have Sprung. After days and days of rain and grey skies we have glorious sunshine and I have noticed several bulbs surfacing. I have been pleased to see my compost bin emptying and rich compost at the bottom which I shall hopefully dig out once teh ground has dried a little. A fortnight of sunshine but cold nights would really help my veg patch.

The garlic is coming up strongly now and the very late broad beans i put in December are doing really well. The others will have to come out, there is no way they will be strong enough to bear good crops and I have a space issue this year. I also need to dig in the green manure before it simply turns to lawn. My actual lawn has turned to moss with cat crap thown in for good measure. This year we may lay down some turf or may reseed with hardier grasses. The greenhouse has also ripped badly, now need to get some tough polycarbonate sheeting to screw on the end and make it windtight. It has done better than I expected, only the south end which has been exposed to the most sunlight and weather (wind) has ripped to the point where it cannot be mended.

Now I really need to send off for my seeds but that would involve finalising my list....