Yes, I know I've been MIA yet again since my last post! My only excuse really ~ as I've done bugger all these last couple of weeks ~ is that because I've felt decidedly unwell, I just couldn't be bothered to even sit at the PC let alone attempt to put my brain cells in gear to write anything 😔 It's not even as if the cold was one of those major 'flu-like things, but it sure has knocked the stuffing out of both of us! Perhaps it's another of the joys of getting older, and our systems just don't cope so well with bugs these days 😒
Anyhoo, we are both feeling very much better than we were, thankfully, although I am running a few days behind Adrian. He's actually felt well enough to do some work in the kitchen garden, making slight alterations to the frames around the raised beds. I'll take some photos when he's finished 😊
As the title of this post suggests, though, I did take some photos before the dreaded cold reared its ugly head, trying not to show the full horror of the work that needs to be done all round the garden this year as it's more than a little embarrassing that the garden is in such a sorry state again!
There's not a lot happening in the kitchen garden at the moment, as you might expect, although life is stirring in the rhubarb bed. Goliath is coming through strongly, and you can just see the Fulton's Strawberry Surprise (moved from the back garden) poking through the soil beside it. There's no sign of the Timperley Early, the other new crown planted last year ~ I'm hoping that it's just a bit slower than the other two.
When I took these photos the narcissus and tulips were all coming through nicely. They are very much more advanced now and to be honest, with feeling so unwell, I've rather lost the opportunity to actually cut some of them for the house and have them actually last any length of time! I do still have most of them to get to the cutting stage, though, and it's been a very worthwhile experiment that I shall definitely repeat again next year.
The crocuses were starting to go over when I took these photos, and they've disappeared now. They are very pretty, cheerful little plants and it's always a joy when they start to appear.
The path border (that we will grass over at some point) was looking very bare but I'd forgotten just how many daffodils are in there! They were just starting to come through when I took these photos (they are later flowering ones). I shall dig them out when they've finished flowering and dot clumps around the borders on both sides of the garden.
This is one of the borders that didn't get tackled last year ~ as you can see! Still, the hellebores don't seem bothered by the neglect, and they have flowered beautifully this year. I should have waited to take photos until the plants were in full swing 😄
Cute little narcissus poking through the detritus beside the hellebores.
It's always lovely to see the peonies coming through. These were moved from elsewhere in the garden. I've often read that peonies hate to be moved, but I've never found that they hold a grudge 😉
The two little holly shrubs that I moved from the other side of the garden last year have made it through the winter, and are looking nicely settled in their new home.
This is the planter in the kitchen courtyard that I grew lettuces in last year. I planted it with primroses Scentsation Rhubard and Custard, and some clumps of narcissus Tete a Tete. The primroses haven't fared well, neither have the ones I planted in the old wheelbarrow in the front garden. I may have to think of a better way to grow them next year. Perhaps plant them in pots or large trays and keep them sheltered in the arbour seat over the worst of the winter months, then plant them out 🤔 Something to think about, anyway.
I thought I'd take another photo of the narcissus now that they are flowering. They are so pretty and are such a cheerful sight from the kitchen window 😊
