The first sunny-ish weekend had me sowing seeds, not that it lasted long, the temperatures have plummeted again.
I was astonished to see lettuce,
rocket
and broad beans all germinating within three days! It’s always such a pleasure seeing those first little miracles of the season.
Throughout the winter I’ve been harvesting spring onions and parsley grown in pots.
Along with chard, which I like to pick when the leaves are small as they are delicious in salads and soups.
I’ve also been plucking away at the kale, everything has been picked to within an inch of its life.
These raised beds will need to be available in a couple of months so the leeks will have to be eaten. I predict gallons of leek and potato soup that will be frozen. I’m also hoping the cabbage and broccoli get a wriggle on.
I just love stumbling across a pot of anonymous bulbs, I’m always forgetting what I’ve planted.
Talking of stumbling across things, I recently discovered my shooting star hellebore under a shrub, I totally missed the show! How they always end up under shrubs I’ll never know. The proud, pink hellebore on the right has the only upright flower I’ve ever seen, how odd.
I love the dogwoods at this time of the year, I have a red, orange and green one entangled here.
And Finally…
I must say I find lockdown far easier in the spring and summer. The dark, short days of winter get old fast. How lovely it is to see a little sun and shoots, buds and bulbs appearing daily. Here’s to being able to eat in the garden.
Until next time, stay safe guys.xxx
Broad beans are always my first crop to germinate, such obliging little plants! I do love home grown fruit and veggies, especially tomatoes. Yes, it’s such a reward for having a bad memory isn’t it? This year has to be better doesn’t it, I have my fingers and toes crossed. Thanks Gerrie.xxx
Lovely to see the first bean shoots coming up, beans and peas are my favourites. Your garden is amazingly productive, you really have enough to feed yourselves for quite a while.
I am glad to hear someone else forgets what they have planted occasionally, that is one of the joys of spring, you find surprise plants in the garden!
I’m hoping this year will be a better Covid year, although, even with vaccines, we’ll be cautious for a while.
Happy spring gardening!
We still have snow on the ground but the very first green shoots are coming up on the south side of the house. The sun is out, the days are lengthening, and we are about to get our first vaccinations! Woohoo!
Lovely that your spring is springing after all that snow. Marvellous news about you both getting vaccinated! Woohoo indeedy! Thanks Brenda.xxx
Like you I have been surprised to see shoots on things in the garden. If they were in a greenhouse, or cold frame, I could understand it better, especially with the cold temperatures.
Your raised beds are performing very well. The modern version of the veggie and herb garden.
It’s too cold to be outside for very long, but to have daylight is uplifting.
Take care. xxx
Good to hear you have green shoots, that’s early for you isn’t it? Oh yes, longer days are most welcome. Here’s to some warmer weather for you. Thanks Menhir, you take care too.xxxx
Dear Dina, I apologize for the absence… but I had bad luck and for 5 weeks I had covid and a beginning of bi-lateral pneumonia which forced me to stay in hospitals for a week.
Now everything OK. I resumed the work that was “stuck” and so you can imagine what that means…
We have not yet started to sow vegetables and legumes… the mercury column goes up and down and if the night falls below 10 ° celsius, then the work has to be done again.
Let’s wait a few more weeks, or perhaps, as an alternative, we can sow in fiber pots and keep indoors if it’s cold outside.
Hoping all of you are well, I send you affectionate hugs and kisses
🙂 claudine
Oh Claudine, I’m so sorry to hear you caught the virus and have been so unwell. Thanks goodness for your recovery. I do hope you have been vaccinated. Take it easy at work, you need time to rest and recover. Huge love and hugs to you, please take care and look after you.xxxx
I’ve not heard much about planting happening here, but I suspect it won’t be long. Our unexpected dose of winter has left a lot of people still trimming, digging, and dumping, but just today I looked at some of the hedges around my place and found tiny little leaves beginning to emerge. Spring will not be denied!
In the avian world, I’ve noticed that my lone mockingbird now has a friend, and there are a couple of doves who are cooing at one another. Here it comes!
I imagine there is enormous amounts of work to be done after that horrific storm! Good to know nature is winning out though. How lovely that your mockingbird has a mate, I wish we had them here. Yes, here it comes.xxx
Many thanks for all the pictures, you have a lot of good things growing 🙂
I agree with you, I too find lockdown is easier in the spring and summer.
Enjoy your weekend.
All the best Jan
Yes, lockdowns are so much easier when the weather is nice. Thanks Jan.xxx
What cheering sights. I was just getting my indoor seed planting stuff ready for the first seeds.
It certainly is cheering! Great that you’re getting going too. Thanks Jason.xxx
The forgotten bulbs will provide a welcome surprise, As the conditions have prevented regular visits to the allotment, I’ve taken to harvesting batches of leeks, cutting them up and freezing them for use generally.
It’s always wonderful when to come across forgotten plants isn’t it? I’m glad I have such a bad memory. Yes, I’ll be freezing leeks too. Thanks Sue.xxx
It really is witnessing little miracles all over the place. I love it, and yes it’s cold again but it will pass and before we know it warmth and sunshine will. be back.
We will all be ready:)xxxx
It really is miraculous seeing things unfurl isn’t it? Every spring I see the new growth through fresh eyes. Here’s to some good weather for us all. Thanks Janet.xxx
Just beautiful, Dina, a very merry, renewing post. Thank you for your reverence for life and kindness in sharing it. xxxxx
Thanks Kitty, here’s to your spring a springing! Love and hugs to you all.xxx
You’re ahead of me with your seeds, I can see that you will have a bumper crop again this year! This lockdown seems to be dragging on for ever, hopefully it will get easier soon, thank goodness for our gardens! x
I’m far too impatient and always seem to sow too early, although I do follow the instructions on the packet. It is better to sow when warmer. Yes, this lockdown is dragging, hopefully it’s the last one. Here’s to us all getting fully vaccinated. Thanks Pauline.xxx
I love the pleasure you take in growing things! Take care, lovely Dina xxx
Nature sure is magical. Thanks Gill.xxx
Well, your optimism is paying off! Magic indeed. Those tender new leaves are to be enjoyed before the bug marauders catch on! I remember them stripping much of your crop last year. Here’s to your beating them to the punch and, yes, eating outside as you enjoy that marvelous garden.
Hellebores are their own magic and you’ve got one showing its pretty face to the world (for once!).
The first seeds to germinate are always such a treat, in a few weeks I’ll be pulling my hair out trying to pot them all on. I think eating in the garden is lovely, especially during a pandemic. Roll on spring. Fancy getting an upright hellebore, I must collect seed and see if it’s children do the same thing. Thanks Anne.xxx
I’m holding off from sowing any seeds for another couple of weeks when it will be lighter and hopefully warmer. The pictures show plenty of things to keep you busy. I’ve never seen an upright hosta flower either. Those dogwood stems look to be be in a right tangle.
I agree about being easier in spring and summer.
Thanks, and you too. xx
I always sow my seeds far too early, they won’t grow until they are ready. That’s my first upright hellebore too. The dogwoods could do with a good prune. Thanks Flighty.xxx
Many people seem to have struggled with this latest lockdown, myself included, and I think that’s because of the reason you state, the weather. It’s so much easier staying at home when you can get outdoors in the garden, not so much fun when you’re trapped indoors because of the rain or snow. It’s nice to see signs of new life about us again, little seedlings growing away. It sounds like you’ve been well fed from your garden throughout winter.
I think lockdowns are far harder in winter, everyone seems to have cabin fever, being able to sit in the garden certainly makes all the difference. I noticed lots of weeds coming up today, they always seem to beat the other plants. It’s been lovely eating fresh food throughout the winter. Thanks Jo, here’s to some good weather.xxx
So many things growing in your garden. I’ve sown some seeds here too but, like you, the temperatures have dropped again. The longer days and better weather make such a difference don’t they. I’m really looking forward to eating out in the garden as well. Hopefully not long now. :O) xx
The longer days are most welcome, they certainly make a difference. The weather has become pretty wild here, it’s so changeable at the moment. Yes eating out really helps during a pandemic. Thanks Veggiemummy.xxx