Spring awakening
As I write there is a female pheasant on the square lawn pecking amongst the very first of the crocus. The cardoons in the long border are constantly covered with birds, blue tits, robins, goldfinch; even the woodpecker now makes daily visits to tap the stems. They are a triumph of success: they looked stately in the snow and now their heads blow into a mass of seeds. Along with the hollyhocks and the miscanthus, they've held up so well and even in the darkest, dullest days always offered some sort of interest.
However, they are being outshone as the snowdrop, aconites, witch hazel, honeysuckle, periwinkle and muscari all come into bloom. Thanks to young Joseph (H)'s love of snowdrops, there isn't a corner of Berryfields left unadorned. If we ever lost Joe it would be easy enough to find him, there'd be a trail of snow drops...
The greenhouse is surrounded by a frozen moat as the rain and ground water mingles. There is still very little to do other than gaze at the beginning of spring. I've installed a very efficient grow light that runs off a giant energy efficient bulb with a sort of silver cap surrounding it. One light and the propagation end of the greenhouse is bathed in growing conditions. I have the light on a timer so I just increase it at the beginning and end of the day with a little warmth. The seedlings are responding very well to this treatment and still have relatively cool nights, but the growth is good and strong. I'm sure they'll give me a headache later on, when I struggle to move from the greenhouse to outside life. It was an indulgence to sow early, I just want to see a little green growing.
The winter salads are finally putting on growth and I can now pick a large bowl, enough to feed two, most days. I have 12 different salads growing in the greenhouses and another five or so outside under cloches. Only the corn salads, frizzy mustards, purslanes, rocket and winter spinach have survived with any dignity outside.
I'm making my way through the last of the potatoes. We've done well for stored things this winter as I still have a bucket of carrots, say 30 or so potatoes and 10 heads of garlic to go. The beetroot and mooli were blasted by the frost, but the celeriac, parsnip and leeks are still good for picking.
I can hear the buzzards cry in the far field. I guess everyone is celebrating spring today.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~38~RS~)
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Is the growlight an eco- friendly sunlight copying bulb? If I shine one on my seedlings will that help them? My only growing space is north facing on my living room floor and my seedlings always go leggy.
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Yup, you could even sit under if you were feeling a little blue. However, although its an eco bulb, it is using energy to grow something. That said if you're north facing it does make a huge difference and yes all your seedlings will stand up straight.
if you're handy you can make your own. I found this site's version very useful
http://desertcontainergardening.blogspot.com/2008/06/homemade-grow-lamp.html
There are variety of different makes out there either search 'growlight' or 'growlamp'. I think it's cheaper to make your own and expect to pay about £15-20 for the bulb (they last a very long time).
You also don't need any base heat if you use a growlight.
hope that helps
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Looks like you've been making good use of that R.S.P.B bird identifier link I posted. Glad you can identify all your feathered visitors. It is a real pleasure to see other creatures enjoying your garden as much as you do. I can almost forgive the pigeons nibbling my broccoli.
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Thanks Alys, will give it a go!
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Hi Alys,
This morning I watched a happy, chubby Bullfinch chewing his or her way through the buds on my small hawthorn. Strangely, it made me happy too. When I picked shrubs for my smallish suburban garden I opted largely for natives in order to attract some wildlife. I have had so many rewards and hawthorns seem such indestructible trees! Have your tea in peace, Bullfinch.
Today was warmer too, I found some bulbs popping their heads up and the shops are all full of seeds, pots and plug plants. Yes Alys, Spring is definitely awakening.
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Hi Alys,
I totally understand Jo's obsession with snowdrops - I seek them out everywhere I go at the moment I think it must come from some primevil desire for Spring. Even in London there are plenty to see - I plan my route to the tube station around the best garden snowdrop displays!
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The joys of spring indeed. I have one problem though, not being a particularly fastidious gardener when it comes to marking what bulbs I've planted where, I wandered out today to find bulbs popping up with no idea what they are! I think that in a frenzy of Autumn planting I popped bulbs in wherever I had the space (I have a small garden) and didn't keep track of what went where. I can spot all the obvious ones; crocus, iris, daffs, but I'm scratching my head with some. Anyway, I'm really excited to see what emerges in the next few weeks. I also got out my hoe which was one of a wonderful collection of old tools which came from my grandfather in law (champion dahlia grower!) and got stuck into the weeding. Again, I have a problem in that in some cases I'm worried about scrubbing up some seedlings I might want to keep. I am, I must admit a bit lazy on the weeding front, but this has its benefits; I found a lovely hellebore seedling nestling at the bottom of my malus today which was a wonderful treat.
My cat, also knows Spring has arrived. He spent most of today stretched out in the sun on the bench!
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I was wondering, what is Winter salad??
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