31 January 2008 - The New Year hardly seems to have started

The New Year hardly seems to have started - in my case with 'flu - and now I
am buying a Valentine card and hoping for flowers! Anyway I already feel
cheered as the days are getting lighter and my wonderful snowdrops are
popping up everywhere.

We have decided to open for the snowdrop season this year as we had so many
glowing reports last year when we opened for the Red Cross (which we are
doing again this year on Sunday 17th Feb). The Nivalis still have a way to
go, but many of my 'specials' are looking fabulous and do not seem to mind
the downpours we have had lately, not to mention last July.

I still have my regular favourites such as Merlin, George Elwes, Wendy's
Gold and Modern Art. But some new to me are rather nice Ding Dong and Vera
Trum have particularly caught my eye. Then there is Elfin and Blewbury Tart
and Jessica and ...

The garden is quickly waking up with Daffodils showing yellow in sheltered
spots and the Hellebores are well on the way. I still love the deep purple
and nearly black faces but every one when turned up has its own individual
charm and we have managed to spread them throughout the beds and even those
in our new woodland garden are flowering.

Opening early has meant clearing borders in record time and no sooner do we
clear one bit of woodland than high winds perversely bring down more. The
vegetable garden looks good and we have even done our runner bean trench. I
have decided to ignore most seed packet advice on sowing in March and began
just after Christmas in the greenhouse and poly tunnel with onions and
leeks.

Broad beans are next and I hope to have most vegetables in starting
positions by end of February. We will plant out earlier and protect with
fleece when we get sharp drops but hope the longer season will give the
plants a chance to do better than last year when we didn't benefit from the
early sunshine that was consistent through March and April. It will probably
all change this year and we'll be back to the drawing board!

We spent a few days in France in the beginning of January and managed to
create an imaginable space for Amy's bedroom. All she needs is a 4th wall!
The owls were in residence and they really do have their own peculiar odour
so we have banished them to the second tower that we can cut off from the
main house. They still seem to be with us so the new Des. Res. met with
their approval.

Most exciting was the appearance of some snowdrops that seem quite happy in
the shade of our trees in spite of little soil and baking summer conditions.
I am happy now I know I can increase my collection over at Saby otherwise
the whole adventure was off! The wild orchids are well advanced in the Park
and the lilac hedge we drastically layered is showing signs of life.

We have plans for a series of avenues to divide the garden and must give
some serious thought to planting the trees in the plan so we can have the
advantage in years to come. We spend a lot of time noting other people's
gardens and what does well. They pollard most things with good effect and we
will follow their lead but with a little British untidiness in between.

The end of last year was a sad record for our pets, with two of my parents'
elderly dogs dying within a week of each other. My father's beloved Plum,
however, is to be replaced by Lily, a cairn terrier that arrives next week.
I wonder what sort of gardener she will be?

posted by Barbara @ Thursday, January 31, 2008   0 comments (Post a Comment)