Digging....

...begins...

....and planning...

Frosted Cistus

It is that time of year when my desk is littered with glossy seed catalogues...I open a new garden diary....like the bulbs that are beginning to poke their heads above ground I am beginning to slowly come to life too as regards getting back into the garden.
 

First thing this morning

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl.  And the anticipation nurtures our dream."

-  Barbara Winkler

Today it was so calm and sunny that as soon as the frost melted I decided to make a start on digging the vegetable patch.   I do love digging on a fine day!   The earth is all crumbly and rich, studded with fat pink worms...I love pulling out the old growth and weeds.  It is so therapeutic and such an optimistic past-time.

I made a start on the veg patch
I've learnt not to try to do too much
at first...a little every day prevents injury!

There are definite signs of new life on the plants too

Hydrangea buds.

Blue sky and red branches
gives a nice bit of winter colour

"The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within."

-  William C. Bryant

In my last post I mentioned Cherry Tree...well, I've ordered a Morello Cherry which should arrive by the end of the month.   Another unexpected offer is for a new pond.   To be specific it is a much loved almost new pond...from Sandra...ooooh Sandra, thank YOU!   You knew how much I've wanted a pond, and I think this one can be made safe so small children and small puppies don't come to any harm.

Yes, there is a new dog in my garden too, Seren (Welsh for Star)...I expect most of you know that already, but just in case you have missed that great news, here she is exploring 'her' new garden...

I feel sure the old guardian of our patch would approve - hey Japes?

JP...Seren has big paws to fill.
Do you approve?

Yesterday I spent 3 hours searching for my up-to-date seeds (they had fallen into that black hole I have in my house where many other things disappear from time to time) and discarding those packets and half packets that expired in 2009/10/11...I know seed can last longer than the plant-by date, but too much over-due and germination is really patchy.  Maybe this week I will sow a few seeds for the windowsill propagator and the heated propagator.   I am thinking of those that like a long growing season like chili and sweet-peas benefit from an early start.   I haven't a lot of window sill space because of these...

Cymbidium (I think)
I bought it for £1.00 on the bargain counter.

Lovely scented hyacinths

Phalaenopsis, home grown from a previous purchase
£1 bargain counter plant.

"From December to March, there are for many of

us three gardens:

the garden outdoors,

the garden of pots and bowls in the house,

and the garden of the mind's eye."

-  Katherine S. White

This year I was considering doing an RHS Horticultural course....I may yet, but it is all about budgeting!   Both finances and time....before Seren I had enough of both...but now, maybe I should put this off till later.  

So...looking forward to a new gardening year.   Do check up on me from time to time if you are interested.   I'll be up-dating this regularly though maybe not every week till it is a bit warmer.

Meantime happy digging....

And condolences to Sally in Pietermaritzburg...hail the size of golf balls is no joke!   But gardens are more resilient than you think...here's fingers crossed for yours. (see ice-moon below, maybe hail is the SA version of it?)

"The word February is believed to have derived from the name 'Februa' taken from the Roman 'Festival of Purification'.  The root 'februo' meaning to 'I purify by sacrifice'.  As part of the seasonal calendar February is the time of the 'Ice Moon' according to Pagan beliefs, and the period described as the 'Moon of the Dark Red Calf' by Black Elk.  February has also been known as 'Sprout-kale' by the Anglo-Saxons in relation to the time the kale and cabbage was edible."

-  Mystical WWW