" The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun." .... Robert Herrick
Spring has now arrived on the Sussex coast borne on cold northerly winds and overnight lows down to a most unwelcome minus two Celsius. And even in the daytime the strong sunshine whilst very welcome is not warming. As we get towards May there looks to be warming trend at least in the day but the very negative likelihood of frost. This air is dry. In fact since Christmas rainfall has been very slight and has usually come in a Wintery mix. By this definition we are in drought https://en.m.wikipedia.org/.../Drought_in_the_United_Kingdom But how wonderfully the bulbs have looked throughout. No strong winds, little rain and sunshine has protected and preserved their beauty. Daffodils are crazily appearing even before the turn of the year but in Home Garden they have flowered beautifully for weeks. More spectacular for me are Tulips. Glorious colours and goblet sized flowers are putting in a memorable display The greening of the large shrubs a trees is underway. We have a large elderflower astill and one very large buddleia left from the considerable clearance I have undertaken and although looking gaunt as a result of that are coming into their own. The Weeping Cherry is still buzzing with bees but the flowers are almost over. The large Flowering Cherry and " Wild " Cherry are coming into blossom. The reliable mature William Bon Chretien pear and Lanes Prince Albert Apple are a bright and brave blossom show Fruit trees planted a year ago are just coming into blossom, Apple " Bramley ", Plum " Czar " and Cherry " Sunburst " A fortnight ago I took delivery of two more half standard fruit trees, Apple "Santana " and Pear " Beurre Alexandre Lucas ". Height gives a sense of structure and beauty to a garden. The use of climbers growing through and up some of the trees mentioned above, trellis, archways and an arbour in the Home Garden will demonstrate that. Six Clematis have just gone in as well as three marvellous climbing/rambling roses from the Victorian/Edwardian era, " Zepherine Drouhin ", " Rambling Rector " and " Madame Alfred Carriere " Literally springing into growth now are the Mock Orange, Wisteria, Honeysuckles, Everlasting Sweet Pea, Foxgloves, Lupins, Catmint, Hollyhocks, Passionflower, Sweet Williams and numerous others. Spring is here ....
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The English winter – ending in July, to recommence in August.” – Lord Byron
In my part of coastal Sussex, 2021 has so far been a cold year and for almost a month, a very dry one. Snow is a rare visitor here in the last decade and although frosts do come along they tend to be light . Not so some recent nights with minus three Celsius measured and back in February minus five. Daytime temperatures have been lower than average. A sudden burst of warmth just before Easter took us to seventeen Celsius but overall temperatures have been in single figures. Light snow fell on Tuesday here. So what is the impact on Plot 106? I am beginning my second full season so I do not obviously have much to compare it with but I make some general points. Last April, broad beans Aquadulce were about eighteen inches high and showing flowers. This year about nine inches tall with no blooms in the offing. Garlic planted in November has just stayed put, light green leaves about a foot high. Close relatives the onion ( sets ) and shallots ( I do like to cook with shallots ) have in the past week of less cold weather begun to perform. Of course it is what is going on below but that will not be revealed until June time. Perpetual spinach does what it says on the tin, largely unaffected by the cold and currently producing good new leaves. I am still lifting leeks! Clearly the weather has slowed the race to " go to seed ". I am delighted to have got all the potatoes, early and lates in. They are all deeply planted and covered with a combination of banked soils mixed with large amounts of composts. I anticipate the shoots of the earliest, " Rocket " putting in an appearance any day now. Great to report on the lovely deep green shoots now appearing at ground level on each one of the dozen " Autumn Bliss " raspberries planted at the turn of the year. The top fruit shows promise. I smile to myself thinking how ambitious I was early on planting half a dozen half standard trees. They will get up to a good four metres by the time I am eighty! Plum Czar is in bloom and the rest will not be far behind. First sowings of radish " French Breakfast " https://www.thompson-morgan.com/.../radish-french.../542TM and Spring Onion " White Lisbon " https://www.thompson-morgan.com/.../spring-onion.../528TM are through. No sign yet of Parsnip " Gladiator " https://www.thompson-morgan.com/.../parsnip.../706TM nor Beetroot " Boltardy " https://www.thompson-morgan.com/.../beetroot.../288TM I am going to to working more intensively in the Home Garden for the rest of the month. Massive trees pruning and trimming shrubs, creating structures, planting trees and home sown perennials underway. Last year I shredded some shrubs to create some pathways but branches I have cut to size and brought down to be pea and bean supports on plot 106 On the allotments the water in now back on and there are large amounts of chippings and stable manures available. In addition to the many " pet " robins that we see I have noticed wrens too. On the odd warm day Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma and Peacock butterflies glide past. No Whites yet ! New allotmenteers too. A buzz of activity as the newcomers make their mark on their plot. Great to see, to say " Hi " and give encouragement. Half a dozen children helping too Despite the cold I have been able to take in the World whilst sitting on the bench that Frank made for me. It is a literal and metaphorical good place to be. I am writing this Blog there. So the cold has over stayed it's time but surely the soft air of true Spring and Summer are coming along. Next to me the Discovery Apple is a day or two from blossom time. In the distance those children laugh and help tame new plots. I leave this moment and speed forward wondering if they will continue to be here as adults. To when the top fruit on 106 is four metres tall. And of course, will I still be here ? Growing up and mortality, it must come to us all .... More at https://thoughtfulgardeningwithandy.weebly.com |
AuthorI launched this website on 16th August 2020 to bring together my thoughts on gardening,, its importance for health and wellbeing and two projects running concurrently, a renovation of my own garden on the West Sussex coast at Lancing and a nearby allotment. But also to learn from other gardeners about the inspirations for their plots, about their gardening projects and enjoyment of beautiful plants and gardens Archives
February 2024
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