Spring

!

Just seen bluetits with beak fulls of nesting material flying in and out of next doors nesting box! They've ignored mine!

They don't want to catch your cough Galen

Just found some 26 vine weevil grubs and watched my very friendly robin eat them. Satisfaction indeed they were nibbling a heuchera in a pot think it might survive, planted peas in a piece of guttering to go to the allotment, sweet peas just peeking out in their pots in the greenhouse. Automatic vent in greenhouse open some 2 inches. Whoopee Spring is on its way.

They can have my cough with pleasure. I've now had a nosebleed as well

Oh! Galen, what are you doing, what caused the nose-bleed? I have had a lovely morning in the garden, just tidying up - how everything has grown, even in the winter, I think a complete make-over is needed, but it is not getting done by me. The robin thinks he owns the garden anyway.

Things are shooting here too I notice all my Clematis are springing into life and bulbs too.
I am really sad about my garden I'd like to grow more veg (in a small way) , this garden was fine while we were both working a lawn with a border one side and two patio areas one near the house and one halfway down with a border just manageable with time constraints but the shrubs in the borders are old and although I manage to keep them trimmed they are past it and I'd love to rearrange the whole thing so I have less patio and more space for a few veg. Trouble is neither of us is up to job any more its just too much heavy work and OH doesn't like gardening anyway its a shame because if it were done I know I'd get much more pleasure from it than I do now. Can't afford to pay someone to do it either.

What a great sunny day, we have been working out there for a few hours and ended up sitting in the sun with tea and cake.DH planted a new shrub, disturbed a worm ( and being kind) placed it in a nearby bed, whereupon a robin swiftly flew down and made off with it.

Ok, whitewave, you win. Just had a few hours sorting out the flower beds, being ruthless with things that have fallen out of favour to make space for new kids on the block. All sorts of things are peeping through (if you don't count my knees through my gardening trousers)! I'm quite excited now!

Gary has sown lots of seeds in my conservatory, no idea what, but they're sprouting up..
My citruses are doing well and my new yuzu is putting on new growth.

Yuzu fruit

I really admire gardeners - I am a disaster with planting and house plants too. Nothing grows / survives! I was quite relieved when we moved to a place with a pave garden area a couple of years ago. Some raised beds that my husband uses for vegetable growing and he is just getting started.

I know Spring really must have sprung because my naughty cat has started to bring in rabbits again after a three month break!!!!

Here (SW France) we've already had to cut the grass around the house twice.
Much as I love gardening I'm beginning to dread the sudden burst of growth that we get in late March. Especially the weeds.
We've had the chickens out in the veg patch, foraging for wireworm, which are a serious pest here, attacking the roots of young plants, and root veg. such as potatoes.
Last year we were both unable to garden due to health problems so covered everything with straw. The soil has had a rest, so if we get it going, it should do well.

I've been out and tidied up but without my usual determination because we'll be handing the garden over to new owners in a few weeks. It's an odd feeling. Do I leave instructions behind or just keep it tidy until we leave for the last time - probably the latter as it's not my place to dictate, is it! Our new garden is brand new, just lawn and a couple of blossom trees and FLAT! Yippeeeee! But for this year I'll just watch and wait and take my time to plan planting for next year. It's funny watching Monty Don knowing I don't have to listen to his list of 'jobs for the weekend'...

I just couldn`t stay inside today , it was warm enough to leave the back door open and air the house for the first time this year.
I did a bit of tidying in the garden , removing dead growth from last year . I am determined to try to sort the garden out this year , the last few have been taken up with looking after my Mum with just no time for much else . Everything has got out of control in that time and looks very neglected .
I am taking advice given on this forum to do it a bit at a time so as not toget overwhelmed by the amount there is to do . I must say I did enjoy my hour outside in the warm sunshine and felt as if I achieved something instead of going from one thing to another like a headless chicken .

galen never heard of yuzu fruit! It looks like lemon?

Spent the day putting up an arch for the new rose and clematis as the wind blew the original one away. It took hours to work out how to do it and although it is up it doesn't look right really. Still once it is covered with the rose etc it won't notice.

mollie a new garden cor! all that lovely planning. Sad to leave all your plants behind though.
Roses I have planted seem ok so far have two more to go, waiting to putt hem in as along with the arch and seat the wind blew away the fence which belongs to next door, they are a young couple with a baby and very relaxed about these things, which is quietly driving me mad. I have offered to sort it but the young chap said no worries my cousin will do it, so here I am trying not to be a Victor Meldrew and constantly dragging the dog back to our side as he nips over the temporary fence we have cobbled together, when he thinks we aren't looking.

Well I have spent the day trying to rid our garden of blessed wild garlic. It's a perennial job but seems worse this year maybe because of the damp warmth of the winter. The garden is much more appealing to getting started on now all the garlic has gone.

When our son was a young teenager he used to go out cycling and one time brought me home some wild garlic to plant. It has been in the garden ever since and I haven't the heart to get rid of it. It doesn't spread very quickly as I think it is too dry.

It is pretty but so flipping invasive in our garden.

Our to do list for early spring:
Feed, mulch and finish pruning 30+ roses
Prune dozen or so fruit trees
Empty grass bay and compost bin (there are 7 new ones)
Cut half acre of long grass
Create 16 metres of new raised beds including turf cutting, construction and filling; plant raspberries and strawberries
Prepare existing 32 raised beds (crop rotation)
Plant seeds in potting shed for above
Build new greenhouse to replace old one destroyed by winds
Weed large amounts of gravel by hand (organic garden).
sit and drink wine on terrace like the do in A Place in the Sun

Mamie - what do you use to cut the long grass? We have a similar amount, got a siton mower plus a small petrol one for the slopes etc.

Wow, I'm worn out just reading your list Mamie.

Whitewave, I'm a little sad at leaving so much work behind but not sorry to see the back of the heavy clay and the horrible slopes. I've got a few things in pots that I ought to take but I'm not sure how best to move them - I suppose wrap the pots in bubble wrap and gently tie the neck? I suppose the removal firm will have more experience. It will be exciting to start again on lighter soil and on a flat plot that faces south! But this year it will be just a few tubs and hanging baskets as we'love be busy doing other things. I

Tricia we use a large hand mower and a smaller one for weaving in and out of the raised beds. The ride-on is sitting in the barn waiting for us to get round to getting it repared.
Today I have done the feeding and pruning of the roses and shifted several loads of compost.
Stopped now so I have some energy left for keep fit tonight.
It is a lovely sunny day but the wind is still cold.

Yesterday I started a longterm project of clearing the area around the pond from branches twigs brambles new tree shoots etc I gave up when I seem to have pulled a tendon at the back of my hand while using the secateurs.