It's MARCH, MARCH.....

....MARCH is Marching in...

Snowdrops at Kenfig today

There is an old saying

If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.

Taking the children to school today there was a very Icy Lion lurking in the wind.  There was even a few moments of hail....ugh.   The wind was icy all day...the hail was a momentary thing.  The sun came out.

Hellebore plugs

Morello Cherry

I think March is the month I really gear up and get out into the garden after the winter.   True to my beliefs, today my Morello Cherry Tree arrived by courier and so did the plug Hellebores.   Not only that but over the weekend I bought my seed potatoes.    I bought a Swift, an all-rounder for boiling, mashing, roasting - 'first early', should be ready May-June.  The other one is Pink Fir Apple, harvest July- September, unusual shape, salad potato, nutty flavour.   Today I bought G the Estima which is a 'second early', harvest about July-August.  It is another good all-rounder, I tried it last year.   I thought we could split all three bags between us.

So the rest of the week is going to be busy potting on the Hellebores, planting the Cherry and chitting the potatoes. that link will give you a Gardener's World video clip of how to chit potatoes.

Miniature Daffodils

The daffodils are beginning to bloom in my garden.   Also the Camellia buds are almost open...in fact, one did open today as has a Hyacinth growing in a pot on my patio.

Camellia

There are even two miserable little Snowdrops flowering on JP's grave.   I am stupidly proud of them because they are so very difficult to grow from dry bulbs.   The recommended way is to grow them 'in the green' which means dividing up a recently flowering clump of Snowdrops just as it is past its best.  I have high hopes these two will multiply and eventually establish a little colony of snowdrops to enjoy every year around February/March.

Two miserable little Snowdrops
The plastic netting is to stop the next door cat using this as his latrine

The marching in of March is evident inside my house too....look at the Orchids

 Not only them but the lovely deep red double Hibiscus from AK in Sweden has a new bud or two.

Hibiscus in bud

The Chili seed I planted about 10 days ago has germinated well...it is now on my study window sill, looking healthy.  Chilies like a long growing period.  These are ear-marked for a certain person's birthday in July.   They are the Cayenne Pepper variety.   Suitably HOT.

Chilies

Yes.   I think I can safely say March is roaring in....time to get busy!   It would be lovely if some of you readers shared what you are up to this month in your gardens.  

Chat to you again soon - if I have a moment to put down the spade and pick up the pen (or lap-top in my case).

Happy gardening till next time.