I swear if I’d woken up on Wednesday morning to find it was raining AGAIN I’d have crawled back under the duvet and stayed there until it stopped. Forget all the jobs I had to do, I would have stayed put. After two days and nights of non-stop torrential rain I was going stir-crazy. Fortunately Wednesday morning greeted me with blue skies and the sun had got his hat on and he was definitely out for the day. It might have been blowing a hooley outside but I was determined to get out into the fresh air. I’ve spent way too much time in front of a computer recently and needed to garden. Even if the garden had looked pristine and there wasn’t a single thing to do (is that ever the case?) I’d have had to find something to do, the urge was so strong.
Luckily the garden didn’t look pristine. In fact the weight of all the snow and then the subsequent thaw meant that the garden looked a bit sorry for itself so there was plenty to get stuck into. My neighbours’ cats have this annoying habit of sitting on my grasses and herbaceous plants, using them like a cat bed and in the process squishing them to a pancake. Well it appeared that the snow had had a similar effect. Grasses and their seed heads that had looked lovely pre-snow now just looked a mess and the brown foliage of the irises and the crocosmia had become big soggy piles. In amongst all this decaying plant matter though were the first new shoots tentatively appearing. Armed with secateurs I snipped and cleared. The snowdrops are in full flower, as are the hellebores and I can see buds swelling on the tete-a-tete daffodils. I only have small feet, size four, but sometimes I think I’m possessed by an elephant as I clumsily step through the borders. I do try to be careful but it wouldn’t be spring if I didn’t accidentally step on something emerging from the ground. On Wednesday it was narcissi. Luckily though the flower stems survived intact even if the leaves are now growing horizontally rather vertically.
The best bit of the day though had to be my first afternoon spent in the greenhouse. We constructed it back in November and although it has been home to several plants over the winter I haven’t really had the need to do anything in there. It was disconcerting to be in there as the wind pummelled the sides; I’m so glad Wellyman screwed it into the patio.
I’ve never had any luck growing Anemone coronaria as the corms rot in the ground and, although at the time I didn’t realise the winter would be quite so wet I thought, fortuitously as it turns out, that I’d try them in pots and then plant them out in spring. Well instead of non appearing as has happened before they have all emerged but, they’ve all grown too well and it’s too wet to plant them out so I’ve to pot on into bigger pots. I’m not sure whether it will work as some plants don’t like root disturbance but I thought it was worth a try. If it doesn’t work I think I’ll have to accept defeat on the windflower front.
I’m resisting the temptation to sow most of my seeds but I did sow a few pots of winter salad leaves, some pea shoots, spinach and sorrel. It’s exciting to be able to start plants off this early but the best bit about the greenhouse is being able to sow standing up. I know it’s a pretty prosaic reason but after years of sowing whilst sat on a compost bag outside my shed it’s a real joy. My shed has always been too full to have a proper potting area and with no window it’s so dark I can’t see what I’m doing. Sitting on a compost bag was never particularly comfortable and chasing seed packets that had blown off or knocking over a pot I had just sown meant something I should have loved was quite a frustrating process. So it’s bliss to now have a dedicated place to stand, out of the wind and rain and still be able to get on with gardening jobs.
So it’s the 1st of February today. We’ve got through January and although I’m sure we’ve still got some of winter to come there’s a feeling that we’ve broken its back. The first seed sowing and the appearance of flowers in the garden has filled me with positivity. It’s a feeling I’d like to maintain. Best not look out the window then, that sounds distinctly like more rain.
Great to see that you are finally getting to enjoy the greenhouse :)
The weather forecast mentioned the ‘s’ word, but I don’t care. It’s still light at 5pm and, like you, I feel winter’s back is broken. It may bite us in the ankles, but at lesst you’ve got those gorgeous hellebores. All I’ve sown so far are a few braid beans – impressed by your industry… (And glad I’m not the only sybarite who appreciates that a greenhouse makes it so much nicer!)
I love your blog and while I normally read it, smile, nod and then move on without commmenting coz of pressure of time, I just want you to know that it is very much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Debbie, It’s very much appreciated that you take the time to read my blog. I know what you mean about there not being enough hours to do everything, so it’s very kind of you to leave this comment. :)
Congrats on your work so far! We had our first greenhouse last year so I know just what you mean about the convenience of standing to sow seeds. You have prompted me to get on with it, thanks!
Hoorah for a good day in the garden – and for a first sowing session in the greenhouse. I love the sudden quietness when you close the door behind you, I lose myself in the greenhouse, time moves differently, I swear. At least now you can do some gardening in the rain!!
Oh, how I related to your sentiments about not being able to face any more rain. It has been relentless here, too, and the poor sheep and pony were really getting depressed (not to mention the shepherdess/stable girl…). Tonight, however, it has suddenly become frosty, so I imagine the roads will be like skating rinks tomorrow!
Working in the greenhouse is very special, more so if the wind and rain are wreaking their usual havoc outside! With a mug of tea and my wind up radio I am happy for ages out there!
Having a greenhouse makes such a difference for all sorts of reasons, as you’re already finding out. I don’t think I’d have dared be in there in the high winds we’ve had this week though, whole panels have been known to fly out, over the fence and in to next door’s garden before now. Hope the potting on of the Anemone coronaria works for you.
Glad you’ve had success with the anemones this year. I’ve had my first success with them too. Mine are in the ground and the first flowers opened this week! Good to have a good place to sow seeds, it is a great pleasure but doing it sitting down, or just at the wrong height would be awful. Christina
Yes to all of this and especially to standing up gardening. But I have been reliably informed that for the last 24 hours I have been heard singing ‘the sun has got his hat on’. I blamed you of course..
Beautiful hellebores. The sun has been a welcome visitor this week, in between bouts of violent wind and rain. Today the wind finally dropped, and it was such a lovely day to be out. Glad that you have had the chance to do some work outside.
I planted some Anemone coronaria in the autumn too, some in the ground and some in pots, so hopefully some may make it through the winter wet!
It’s always good to read an optimistic gardening post at this time of year.
Your comment about treading on things made me smile as imagine what I’m like in my size ten wellies!
Good to see that you’re starting to make good use of the greenhouse. xx
Oh how exciting – now that you have sowed seeds you can declare your greenhouse officially open WW. Worth all the hard work of putting it up to be able to sow in comfort and cosiness. Saturday was the mid point between the shortest day and the spring equinox, so although winter is not over at least there’s light on the horizon.
“blowing a hooley” hahaha! I love that expression! Of course I don’t like it when it is blowing a hooley outside. I too feel we are over the worst – despite a bit of a snowfall yesterday, but the lightness is what I crave for more than anything else. If it’s still light when I get home then I can go potter. You’ll love your greenhouse more and more over this next year. It’s been the best thing ever for me :)
I agree about the light. I popped up to the allotment on Monday and was able to walk back at about quarter past five in the light. It really gave me a lift and made me think spring wasn’t too far off. When the sun is shining inside the greenhouse is really quite warm, even at the moment when it’s so cold outside. I am getting a bit carried away with my ideas for the greenhouse though. I must remind myself I do have to fit in there too.
Mine was crammed last year!! I want to do even more this year too and am trying think of ways to invent more space!!!
I’d love a green house for much the same reasons. Those and the fact that I’ve already run out of window sills and I’ve barely even started sowing. Good that you’ve managed to get outside. I’m hoping I’ll be able to this weekend. Serious withdrawal symptoms!
Looks like the weekend should be dry and less windy so hopefully you’ll get a chance to do some gardening. I thought the greenhouse would free up some space, all that has happened is I’ve bought more seeds. ;)
Lovely post – and jealous of the greenhouse!
Thank you. I wanted a greenhouse for years so I know greenhouse envy. ;)