A lovelly time of year, the 'shoots' are showing on our bushes and trees. Your's seems to be doing well too, if the Fushia's are hardy, they sure woun't be dead. This nice weather is working wonders. Our preliminary 'makeover' was completed on thursday and since then, we have been doing a little most days. More plants and compost to get too, then lawns to feed. Seems all go, but sure makes us feel Good.

Blimey just when you think the cold weather is over along comes another week of possible frosty mornings.
The peas I spoke of have germinated well in the root trainers and really need to be planted out but cannot chance them yet.
The Calendula need to be pricked out as some are damping off but cannot risk them.
I have the bedders in need of hardening off but must not risk them either.

On a brighter note, has anyone had any experience of growing Auriculas??
I have often thought of having a go but was a little wary especially up here in the frozen North.

I was hardening off my toms and forgot them. The wind and rain yesterday has shredded them, I've bought them indoors now, a bit late though, here's hoping they pick up. Never tried auriculas, I saw a bit about them on the tele once but if I remember rightly they were mostly in a greenhouse. I'll see if I can find some info about them.
We lit our log fire yesterday for the first time, Lady ran and hid, Monty just kept putting his head on one side and crying, I think he wanted the logs, he couldn't understand it at all.
We've got that north wind back again, just when I put my scarves away.

Apparently auriculas don't mind the cold but have trouble with the wet, here's a link,
http://bit.ly/akyfEj

good luck.


A hedgehog wandering around the front garden has decided to settle there, it drove the dogs crazy,I must make sure I put their leads on before I open the front door. The dogs have stopped barking at it but I bet the minute it moves again, they'll be off.

I wouldn't let the dogs near Spike, they'd either kill him or terrify him to death, anthing like that and their true Jack Russell nature comes through, not so cute then. Saw a robin feeding its young yesterday as well, it was on the fat balls, it looked all fat and fluffy. I just love England in the spring.

Garden update.
Two rows of pea plants now in the ground with some seeds added to bulk up the crop.
One row each of carrots and spring onions and a couple of short rows of 2 varieties of radish plus some cut and come again lettuce seeds sown in a large pot.
All netted up and watered in. Now snow you if you dare heavens.
Just got to prick out the fabled calendula and we are done for a while.
It will take a week to get over the exertion but hopefully will be worth it.

You have been busy, both of you. I received 3 antirrhinum plugs yesterday and planted them. They are perennial, I forget what colour they are, they didn't say on the box. I notice Thompson and Morgan are doing climbing geraniums. I am very tempted. My lettuce seeds have started to come up and there's probably something else in the tub, I noticed a paw print in the middle of it, thankfully bones, well dead ones don't grow.

Yes they are, my garden is looking very cottagy at the moment, I'm dreading the summer months, it all withers and looks very sad.Monty decided he wanted to see what was under one of the birdbaths yesterday, he pulled it across the garden and then started digging where it was. It was a very makeshift bath so thats prompted me to get another one a bit more decorative.