We have Germination!

My first seeds of the year are starting to Germinate, I've planted a load of different tomato varieties, some peas for an early crop and also a load of flower seeds with packing out my sparse borders in mind. The veggie seeds have pretty much all germinated but I've had varying results with the flower ones. For example I sowed a whole packet of Lavender seeds and none of them have as of yet made an appearance. I also planted a few older packets that I've received free over the last couple of years. As they're a bit old it hasn't been too much of a surprise that they haven't come on but I'm disappointed about the Lavender. I'll leave them in the window for a few more weeks yet before I give up though.

Artificially age terra-cotta pots

I just came across a tip about how to artificially age new terra-cotta pots. To get the effect you water down some live organic yoghurt and paint it onto the pots. You then leave them outside for a couple of days and bingo - aged pots. I'm yet to try it but will be giving it a go next weekend.

Salix Caprea 'Kilmarnock'

I braved the weather last weekend to plant out a new weeping willow in the garden. We chose the Kilmarnock Salix because of it's wonderful catkins and it's tolerance of full sun. There's a spot at the far end of the garden that's been in a bit of a state since we took over the space from the previous owners and I have been trying to renovate it. They used to have bonfires down there and also used it as a dumping ground for their grass clippings and other garden waste. My wife and I have been working on the area and turned the big burnt circle of death into a new circular bed into which we've decided to plant a new willow and a load of cottage garden bulbs (Lupins et).

As with all new plantings there's not much of a visible change at the moment but come summer it should look super!

White Easter

Well the weird weather here in the UK continues. I awoke this Easter morning to find the garden covered in a sprinkling of the white stuff. In the last few days we've seen heavy showers, glorious spring sunshine, frosts, above average temperatures and now SNOW! I wouldn't be surprised if the plants in the garden didn't know if they were coming or going. I know I don't. My gardening plans have been thrown out the window thanks to the swinging shifts in the weather.

Fortunately I haven't put any bedding plants out yet and most of the bulbs that have already gone in shouldn't mind a bit of cold. I'm hoping that all this wether will mean the yucky stuff will all be out of the way soon leaving us with a gloriously hot long summer.

Garden Update

I've been a little busy with work the last couple of weeks so haven't had much time to update things here. That doesn't mean to say that nothing has happened in the garden.

We've planted out lots of perennials into the bare beds in the garden and created a few new areas to plant up. I've planted the first batch of seeds for the year, a few veggies and also some flowers to help bulk up our pots later in the summer. I've also planted out a new Willow tree up the far end of the garden that in a few years may give us some shade from the mid day sun.

I have also turned my compost for the first time this year, and it's becoming clear that the last couple of months inside without much gardening has made me a little unfit. I was knackered. Anyway, lots more digging to do in the next few weeks getting the Veggie patch ready for this years new batch. I'm actually getting quite exited.

Oh and I just remembered, my Rhubarb seeds have germinated and I now have some tiny little plants. How wonderful!