Over the last couple of weeks the plum tree has been reduced to nothing but a stump and a pile of logs, despite there being several days when it was too cold to do anything outside. It is really strange to look up from the kitchen windows and no longer have it towering up above the hedge and casting shade over this part of the garden. The Golfer has done a Grand Job but that woman who keeps photobombing the pictures hasn’t batted an eyelid and doesn’t look especially impressed, does she?
Slightly higher daytime temperatures allowed a little time in the garden yesterday and today, when loganberry and raspberry canes in thefruit cage were belatedly tied in and early sweet peas planted out in the greenhouse. After learning about ‘winter flowering’ sweet peas (that will flower early in the greenhouse) from Julie of Peonies and Posies I sowed some back in October and then a second batch of red, white and blue ones later in the year in the hope they would be in flower for Younger Daughter’s wedding. Julie grows hers up netting but so far mine are just planted round canes. Also in this greenhouse are two grasses I have brought in for protection, overwintering fuchsias, pelargoniums, dahlias and those non-performing chrysanthemums.
This greenhouse is completely unheated so temperatures have dipped below freezing most nights over the last week or so, unlike the smaller greenhouse where a single tubular heater has just about kept it above zero. This greenhouse is packed with seedlings, some of which could have been planted out in late autumn but weren’t; sadly, after doing so well with them last year, this includes a number of trays of winter flowering violas that have succumbed to aphid attack and are unlikely to perk up again.
Recalling that a second seed sowing blitz began in February last year, the next milder afternoon could be usefully spent reorganising this greenhouse and moving the maturer seedlings into the colder one to make room for new sowings – and thinking ahead to a draft planting scheme for this year’s cutting beds. And thus the cycle continues…
Lots of happy vases ahead!
And wedding poseys I hope!
You are further ahead than I am this year Cathy; I didn’t get any autumn sowings of flowers done last year; not entirely my fault as I knew I was going to be for a few weeks with my MIL but didn’t know when so it was difficult to plan. I’ve begun this year’s seeds and as the first ones germinate and move on to make room for new ones in the propagator I’ll keep sowing. It is very satisying to see all your small plants and seedlings.
But I need to work on overcoming my reluctance to plant some things out in the autumn
I am going to do some winter sowing in milk jugs next month. Looking forward to it.
Yes, after the ‘winter’ lull I had been forgetting that many seeds can be started in February
We have also had warmer than normal temperatures in the garden so I’ve had an opportunity to walk many times through the garden and have now started to even attend to some of the early spring shores…It is such a good feeling.
It soon comes round again Charlie
She who doesn’t bat an eye obviously has poor vision – your garden looks very different without the tree! I’m very envious of your greenhouse and wish I could take some of the rain you’ve been getting off your hands.
Oh in this part of the UK we have had a lot of rain which has been further north, where I am sure they would have welcomed you if you wanted to have some of theirs!
All looking full of promise for the coming year Cathy. The plum wood will make a nice scented fire when seasoned. The comment section is working ok now Cathy.
Glad the commenting is OK now – I wonder what the problem was? The sawn sections of plum are a gorgeous colour too, but sadly we don’t have anything to burn them on but some of our neighbours do. I shall probably keep some of them in the woodland to benefit the wildlife.
So many future flowers! Also, your greenhouse seems lovely, and spending an afternoon organizing it would be so much fun! Or do I only think that because I don’t have a green house?
I had to smile at your last remark, as ther might be a hint of truth in it -although it makes such a difference since I have retired as I have the time to be rather more organised in it rather than haphazard, which was not very successful
Feeling lazy… Need to get organised. Thanks for the inspiration.
Its easier to get organised when it is not quite as cold outside – that was the boost I neede, I think!
I too am envious of your green house, but also of your organising skills you are so well in advance of the spring season, just beginning to think it may never come.
Thanks Jackie – last year was the first time I blitzed autumn sowing and I found it worked well, easing the pressure on spring sowing