‘When is it ever going to stop raining?’ is a question I’m sure we are all asking. Sitting forlornly looking out at a waterlogged garden through the mist and mirk does nothing to lift our spirits. So, a trip to the garden centre is always a treat. Looking at all the bright coloured seed packets with sowing instructions and pictures of blooms we can expect is a real tonic indeed. With the plant sale in mind, I come out armed with vegetable seeds and some good old cottage garden favourites (probably would have been a good idea to try some rice, I think my veg patch could easily become a paddy field!)
We shouldn’t complain about the weather, we are quite fortunate in this part of the country, other areas have fared far worse with floods and wind damage, but the dreary winter seems never ending, but there are signs of spring. The days are getting lighter and apart from the cold snap at beginning of new year, it has been relatively mild.
The snow drops are blooming, and the bulbs and early flowering cherry trees are beginning to bud up. The Hellebores are starting to flower and the Witch Hazel is looking its best along with the Viburnum, which has been in flower for a while.
It won’t be long before we are all back to the weeding, grass mowing and moaning about the heat and lack of rain, I can’t wait.
Rosemary Stratton
