Spring is definitely here!

Clocks went forward last night. Although I've been waiting for this day for so long throughout the harsh winter we've just had, I kind of felt a little cheated. Totally forgot about it until this morning when I woke up. I had the alarm set for six so I could get loads done in the grounds - but it turned out to be seven! Although I lost the hour, I still had one hell of a productive day. But before I talk about today, I've got to catch up on the happenings over the last few weeks since my last post.

All seedlings have been up for the past week or so... Peppers and Chillies were the last to germinate. Full list as follows.

Broccoli (Now pricked out into larger pots, worried that they look a little dead, but hopefully I'm wrong)
Cauliflower
Kale (No idea what to do with this. Must read)
Beetroot (Beautiful red seedlings)
Radishes (Crop 1 and 2 are already planted out in the greenhouse, did that last week and yesterday resp.)
Courgettes (Massive primary leaves on seedlings, not much germination from a packet of seeds)
Peppers
Chillies
Carrots
Leeks
Rocket
Lettuce
Potatoes (Maris Bard, Rocket & ? just starting to chit)
Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatos
Mange Tout

Spent last weekend - after sorting out seedlings, tidying up the flower beds, tidying up old dead foliage and planting a few things (Stargazer lily bulbs and a rose that we got as a houseplant and no-one was watering) AND mowed the little back lawn for the first time this year!

The lawn that I sowed near the dyke had turned really yellowy brown over the winter as I believe it wasn't getting enough water as the ground was permanently frozen, but luckily that is beginning to turn green and get a little more healthy looking. The lawn nearest the main road really needs to be mowed now, but I've delegated that to my Mother In Law's partner to do during the week. Not started the mower in a few months so I hope he doesn't have too much of a problem with it.... like I've had with the rotavator.

Other signs of spring.... Daffodils are FINALLY flowering... saw my first one last week. Shows how harsh the winter was, when they weren't even sprouting on St David's day! (Not sure about Wales though) We had a visitation from a pair of ducks last weekend. They stopped their waddling around the grounds only momentarily to have a few slices of mouldy bread - kindly donated by my wife. Probably looking for a place to nest, but their visit was only fleeting (about 4 hours). Buds have appeared on practically every tree except for the late foliates - beech etc. The dyke will probably need its first mow soon - and will need to spray the broadleaf weeds soon too. (Decided that as I spent way too much time last year on the dyke, I'm only going to look after our side and let the other side grow - apart from the strip along the road side. Another reason is that tortoiseshell butterflies seem to lay their eggs on nettles)

Anyway - on to today.

Only did two things today. Made about 20 paper briquettes (about 50 odd now) and totally marked out the entire path at the end of the garden, all the way from the back of the summerhouse near the chicken coup all the way - through the 'hills' (and far away) way past the bricks and round to join up with the other path at the back of the greenhouse. Included in this, I also marked out the circle for the feature just past the pot shed. I didn't just mark it out, I dug a 6 inch trench either side of the path down the entire length (apart from in the circle where the clay was as hard as concrete.). Total length of path, about 100m. Total length of trench digging - about 200m. Needless to say. I'm totally knackered.

Photos - and hopefully video to follow. Which reminds me, I've been taking a lot of footage of the garden lately and may do a monthly video podcast at some point in the future.

Right... Sunday roast!!

Spring is here... I think.

We've had a few days where you'd think spring has sprung, and then mornings with heavy frost appear out of nowhere. It's only just turned March so it's least to be expected.

I only have one day a week now to work on the grounds, which is probably a little amount for most gardens, let alone one this size. But nevertheless, I use the time wisely. The Sunday just past, I heeled in over 30 bare rooted trees and flowering shrubs (into pots) and cleaned the inside lower panes of the greenhouse. Back breaking work but needed to be done. The greenhouse is covered in the usual green slimy algae that comes with winter. Cleaning it off - as well as giving my crops more light, gives me a sense that I'm clearing away winter and getting ready for the new year... The new growing year that is. I just used a hand held squeegee and and spray bottle of water and it did the job. As for the trees, we now have a good selection of deciduous, and three spruce saplings, which will be planted out when the soil gets a little warmer.

In other spring-ish news, last week snowdrops, crocuses and one primula (in our roundabout) have flowered. Granted, only these have only happened in the most sheltered of spots, but at least its something. Daffodils and surprisingly a few tulips have started to sprout too. Heard on the radio last week that because it was a particularly cold winter, all early spring flowers are going to bloom at once this year making it the most colourful spring in 30 years. Lets hope so.

As for the greenhouse, the first veg to germinate was the broccoli (last Saturday) with the cauliflower and radishes a close second - first noticing their sprouting on Monday morning, the day I surprised my Mother-in-Law by actually sweeping the greenhouse.

Jobs to be done this week is to clear the dyke of rubbish and cut back the pampass grass - the 20ft giant that will go rotten in the middle if not cut back every year or so. The ones down the street have been cut back and are already starting to grow again so it won't be long before it's back to it's majesty and splendour as on of the major focal points at the east of the garden.

In other - non grounds related news, work is being done on the annexe to include a kitchen, French doors to the north and new master bedroom with en suite. This should be completed in about a month. The exterior work has just been complete.