Tuesday 27 January 2009

Warmth of the sun.....

After two days of rain the sun eventually came out. The little bit of warmth was so welcome......
As I walked the garden I could feel the sap rising.......my head tells me it is January......

but my heart tells me that spring is around the corner. I have itchy fingers......


I need to be doing.........



I had a few projects that I could do today.........it was good to be out in the fresh air and amongst the plants......

I cleared some of the debris that had accumulated in some of the beds......

The dogwoods need coppicing, but that can wait until another day. I love the lime green of this one.
The ivy in the copse has grown well. Mr P has put an arch up for it to ramble over.
I shall let it do its own thing for a while and then when the time is right I will clip it.
If you go through the arch it takes you to this little pathway. I have mulched it today with bark. Foxgloves, ferns and pulmonaria will cover the end of the path in springtime......
Snowdrops......
and daffs are showing all over the garden now......
In other areas of the garden Skimmia Japonica and Hellebores are ready to burst.......
Whilst some of the Mahonias have finished flowering, others are just getting ready to open. So useful for the bees if they appear in this warmer spell.....

Hey Gail, look, see that little tiny bit of yellow.....I think my witch hazel is going to bloom in the not too distant future.......
Rosa rugosa is showing a little too early........but you cannot stop nature doing its own thing.....can you?

The greenhouse has been cleaned inside. I am going to use it a lot more this year.

I have collected lots of seeds from the garden and have been given some to. Magazines also offer free seeds so I have more than enough to be going on with.

Mum and Dad are going to come and help. I have noticed that they are both lacking motivation....and I could feel them sliding away. I have asked them would they like to help and they jumped at the chance. I think we are going to have way to many plants for the garden, so I have decided to sell some at the front gate. I shall get Dad a comfortable chair and a sun hat.....he will enjoy sitting by the gate and chatting to people who stop to buy. I think it will be a bit of fun for us all. I have a lot of projects for this year, so I may not be able to post as often as I would like. Be sure that I will visit your blogs when I am able.

I am looking forward to working in my garden this year.........are you??




41 comments:

Miranda Bell said...

Every year always holds new surprises and every year I have many projects on my list to do and always hope I can get through as many as possible... it is lovely seeing things come back to life and start to plan what favorite plants and seeds you're going to plant this year... will be keeping an eye... I must admit I really like the "blogs that I follow" feature so that you can always see when someone's put a new posting... Keep enjoying the sunshine... Miranda

NCmountainwoman said...

I love the wonderful signs of spring in your beautiful garden. I agree with Miranda...this post is just full of sunshine. Just what I needed.

Rose said...

Cheryl, just what I needed today! It is so gray here--the forecast is for snow all day. It may not be spring, but it certainly looks that way in your garden. Even with the snowdrops and daffodils(!), your garden has so much color. What are the red branches in the background of a few of the photos?

Your idea to enlist your Mum and Dad's help is an excellent idea. My parents, especially my mother, are always busy with one project or another. I think without something useful to do, a person, especially the elderly, just begins to decline. Your dad will enjoy sitting in the sun and chatting with visiting gardeners; for that matter, so would I:)

Marimoy said...

Surprisingly it is chilly here today. I think your idea sounds lovely! Selling plants! That's just perfect. Do what you do best. We will always await your updates!

Cheryl said...

Hi Miranda....I agree it is most useful to see when someone has just posted....you don't miss anything that way.
I fully intend to finish all my projects this year.....I am going to plants some roses....I have just got to think of a way to stop the rabbits eating them (have lots of ideas)......

Graceanne Grateful said...

Your post is beautiful. I too am looking forward to spring. My Daffodils are coming up also and I even have 2 or 3 in bloom already - Halleluyah!
I have a lot of work to do in my garden this spring. I hope that I will be able to do all I need to do.
Have a wonderful day. G G :)

Cheryl said...

Hi ncmountainwoman....glad you enjoyed the post....it is good to have had the sunshine today...long overdue......

Unknown said...

I always look forward to my gardens. Your garden looks delightful and I hope some day that mine is just as charmning!

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose.....the red branches are dogwoods.....I have many of them in the garden.....I love them all but think the lime is stunning. They do well here, they like the damp.....

I have seen Mum and Dad decline, I need to motivate them and keep them interested in life. I know they will enjoy just being here with me......

Hope the grey days soon disappear and blue skies are yours once again......

Cheryl said...

Thank you Mimi....this will be a fun project....I am looking forward to it.....
Hope you soon warm up again....I am sure you will...

o2bhiking said...

Thanks for posting your photos Cheryl. Always nice to get a little break from winter. I also love the ones with your granddaughter. My grandaughter will be that size soon enough, time flies by so quickly. Looking forward to spring in your beautiful garden. Art

Cheryl said...

Hi Graceanne.....how delightful to have daffs in bloom already....their beautiful yellow blooms lift the spirit, do they not??There is always a lot to do this time of year....but we have to wait until the weather improves......

Cheryl said...

Hi naturenut....I am sure your gardens are lovely.....they reflect the person we are......

Rusty in Miami said...

There is always something to do in the garden, it looks like spring is coming early this year in your area

Cheryl said...

Hi Racn4acure....tku...grandchildren are wonderful to have in the garden....we can learn so much from them.....Time does indeed pass so quickly....

Cheryl said...

Hi Rusty....I do no think this weather will last....it never does here......the cold and wet will soon be back......

Liz said...

Oooh, white aquilegia, I need to find some of those seeds!

I'm very much looking forward to my garden, I've also been itching to get out.

My big jobs for the spring are:

Erect a higher fence, the one currently is only 3/4' and I want more privacy.
Get a gate post so we can properly close the gate and lock it.

Everything else is extra to this and I'm sure I'll go plant happy as always!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I can see why you are thinking spring Cheryl. All of those little bits of green and the snowdrops. SWOON... I love em.

Here there is ice coming down on top of the 5 inches of snow we received last night. Did I mention it is cold and cloudy?? I am still looking for that sun.

I can't wait for time to think about planting some seeds.

Cheryl said...

Hi Liz....I am the queen of white flowers, love them. When I saw white aquilega I just had to have them.....

You have many jobs to get done....it is so satisfying when they are finished and you can look back and say "I did that"

Cheryl said...

Gosh you are cold Lisa....it was a relief today to feel the warmth of the sun. It has been so cold and damp here....get into your bones cold. I must say after three bad seasons I am hoping this will be a better year......

beckie said...

Oh Cheryl, your gardens look so inviting with the sun shinning on them! And so much going on already. I could be envious. :} But what most interests me is your green house! How wonderful to have one. Oh the plants I would grow. I think it's wondeful to get your parents involed in your garden. Maybe even planting some for their own garden. And to put plants out for sale sounds like a brilliant idea. Especially having your Dad out there. I am sure he will love that and will be able to share his knowledge of gardening. Be sure to put up notices in local places so more people will know you have plants.

I wish you well with all your projects and ideas for your gardens. I know you will enjoy each moment. Take care and thanks for sharing your glorious gardens on a day when it is snowing, cold and gloomy here.

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie.....We will be growing plants for Dad to. He loves Zinnias, so they are a definate. Coleus is another favourite....Dad likes bright and colourful.....
I shall put a board out on the grass verge. We get a lot of school traffic pass this way....I am hoping the Mums will stop by on their way home from school drops......

The winter seems long this year....or is it me....we have had so many drab days.....

Hope you are well......

marmee said...

it is exciting that the springtime is almost here at least close. i have so many plans for this garden this year i need to organize it all in my head and prioritize. i hope to make some big changes this year. enjoy the warmth while you have it.

Wendy said...

Yes, yes and yes! I am looking forward to gardening - even though we're a few months behind you.
I love the title of this post - warmth of the sun. Your garden looks delicious - as if just waking from a long nap.

I am glad you are having your parents help with the gardening. They will take such pleasure in the whole process. Spring is a time of renewal.
Lots of hugs and happy gardening to you. Oh, and thank you for sharing your garden pics. It is nice to enjoy a little bit of yours from across the big pond.

Nickie said...

I am SO looking foward to gardening again this year---saddly, I am under at least a foot of snow and it won't get any better for a good lone while yet. Just seeing your green and the snowdrops are making me drool.

Cheryl said...

Hi Marmee.....I am looking forward to seeing your projects in the garden....with such a huge area you have so many options.....Did you ever use the lovely gate??

Cheryl said...

Hi Wendy.....the trouble with weather in the UK is that it can change in the blink of an eye.....
two days down the line it could be snowing!! So you learn to never take anything for granted.

Mum and Dad will have some fun....it will be good to see them working together......

Cheryl said...

Hi Nickie.....a foot of snow.....oh dear....
I never take the english weather for granted, it can change three times in a day!!

Your greenery will soon be back......

beckie said...

Cheryl, me again! I was just looking closer at all the seed packets you have. Glorious! I was wondering what the packet to the left is-the one that looks like black flowers with a white edging? So unusual.

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie....they are Nemophila pennie black. Very easy to grow annual.....the flower is deep purple and the edge is bordering on silver. They can be planted in the garden or containers. The common name Baby Eyes......

Ruth said...

The sun really makes a big difference to the garden and a person's outlook. So much green! Lovely pictures.

Gail said...

Cheryl, I am sorry to be so pokey but I SAW THE WITCH HAZEL It is beautiful. I can't wait to see the bloom unfurled. Cheryl, your tour is wonderful, almost as wonderful as being there with you and then sitting down to a cup of tea. Soon it will be spring and you will show us the flowers we've held in our hearts...blooming.

gail

Sheila said...

Cheryl, I have found you again, after I stopped blogging for a few months. Your garden looks wonderful, and I am green with envy. In fact I am the only green thing around here, as my garden is under at least two feet of frozen snow, and today has added another 1o inches of fresh snow on top of that.
To see your buds, and the snowdrops, has cheered me no end.
hugs
xx

Pat said...

Green,green everywhere.
Your garden is cheery even in the winter.
Send some sunshine this way !

Cheryl said...

Hi Gail.....I can't wait to see the witch hazel in bloom ....it was a gift from Mr. P, so that makes it a little bit special.....

Tea would be nice, there is nothing like tea in the garden on a summers day......

Cheryl said...

Hi Sheila....two feet of snow....oh dear....I don't think I could cope with that much....in the UK if we get a couple of inches we complain...lol

Cheryl said...

Hi Patsi....will try and send some sunshine....not promising it will arrive though...lol

naturewitch said...

Hi Cheryl

A lovely post, as usual. Just wandering your garden with you cooled me down.

In Southern Australia, we are in the middle of a heat wave which will continue for the next few days. It's somewhat strange to see the new buddings of late winter.

But it will cool down here too and you'll warm up.

Love nature's cycles . . . xx

Antigonum Cajan said...

Excellent article, photography. My
only possible criticism is the amount
of grass.

I can not perceive nature with noise
pollution of any king regarding the many needs of turf.

Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides,
fertilizers,irrigation, particularly in a golf course... Where everything meaningful
in nature from an ecological focus
is put aside.

Cheryl said...

Hi Antigonan.....Grass is an important element of a wildlife garden....I am an organic gardener.....I do use any sprays or any kind anywhere in my garden, least of all the grass. There are many wildflower planted in the grass to cater for the needs of wild bees. Also blackbirds thrush and many other ground feeding birds need grass to source their food.
As for the noise of the equipment I could not agree more but sometimes you have to choose noise or no grass.....I go for grass everytime........it supports the creature that I love.....

It is definately not a golf course.........

linda may said...

G'Day, I found your blog via Wildlife gardener's blog. I really enjoyedreading through and will bookmark your page to come back to and read more later on.