Weather- for gardening .... or not

My birthday present arrived today of
The rose Gertrude Jekyll and a tub of Lilly of the valley.

Goodness knows where the rose is going, well I do but not where I would have chosen as it is in partial shade, but hopefully she will cope.

In the greenhouse until the weather bucks up.

I have a Gertrude Jekyll, ww. It's a lovely rose with a good scent. I've had it for years and rarely prune it so it grows very big. Has a first flush of flowers in June and then keeps going intermittently until the first frosts. Mine does get lots of sun but most roses don't seem to mind a bit of shade so I'm sure yours will be fine.

Glad to say that I manged to get the old hellebore foliage cut away just before it snowed! They have lots of flower buds so I'm looking forward to an early display.

Pleased to hear that your GJ is doing well maize

I haven’t planted mine yet as first it was too cold and lately too busy, but we have just had 3 of the most perfect early spring days, with no wind and cloudless skies. It is warm enough to sit on the garden seat - the dog lays stretched out in the sun.

I’ve just come in from having coffee sat in the sun. Next to the seat is a winter honeysuckle and it is alive with bees. Absolutely glorious, so might plant GJ or prepare the ground today at least. I also have a pot of lily of the valley to plant.

What a lovely day and so appreciated after the last few very wet days.

Interestingly DS has recently received the latest 10 year report on climate change. Apparently the world is heating up 30% faster than modelled 10 years ago. We’ve been talking about Cape Town on another thread and day zero, but London is the 6th most likely city to dry out!! It has less rain than say Rome or Milan.

I didn’t quit understand what he was saying, but briefly, because the climate has not achieved an equilibrium we are very likely to experience catastrophic events, like major flooding, drought and extreme heat or cold. But not every year, it is in the lap of the gods as far as I can understand.

I think I need to wait until I can see the garden as we have 2-3 feet of snow!

I do miss the early garden bulbs of spring in Britain but I bought myself an indoor pot of grape hyacinths this week

I spent an hour in the garden this morning, tidying up and refilling the bird feeders (a daily task at the moment!)
I have crocus, snowdrops, roses, perennial wallflowers, primroses, Siberian iris, polyanthus and 'Hotlips' salvia all in flower - a very curious and mixed bag!

Out pottering for a few hours today,and feel so much better for it.We moved for the larger south facing garden a few years ago,having had a reasonable sized but north facing one that required going down steep steps to it.Often by the time we thought about taking a coffee or a meal outside, we'd go off the idea due to the access. So although it was well tended and lovely to look at from the house it's still absolute bliss to open the door and step straight out.And the today's first day the weather has been nice enough,and I've had a day to myself to do some serious tidying. And although much larger it's all one one level.Unfortunately DH has developed an ankle problem thats got much worse lately so apart from some help with hedge trimming its mainly down to me to sort it!Hopefully he can get it sorted eventually because I know he's frustrated not to be able to join in.
I must admit the other day I felt a bit daunted at the prospect ,everything looked so unkempt.It's amazing
though how much you can achieve once you start.
Only concern is how early the tulips in pots are popping up,to say we're up north. I think I've done it again and not planted them deep enough.I will eventually learn!

I love my garden, it is the one thing that even in old age I can still do reasonably well and derive a lot of pleasure from all year round. Must get those roses properly pruned and then there's the Buddleia!!! DH spent this afternoon pulling a couple of bushes out as they were well past praying for!! We now have to decide what to put in the space! It gives us a joint interest and we love it.

Didn't go out until after lunch as we had promised to take DD shopping. Lovely afternoon in warmish sunshine. Loads of deep purple crocus, primroses and daffodils. I started painting our 3rd log store !!! Whilst DH attended to the garden roller. Needed soon for new lawn. Apparently we had an earthquake . But it passed us by, although DD felt it at her house. ?
Rain tomorrow so they say.

Managed half an hour before the rain started - but it was wonderful to be out and about. Even OH managed 10 minutes before collapsing in a heap - but it is still good for him to have fresh air and have achieved something, however small.