Although the weather is gorgeous, and actually hasn't been too bad all spring, the groundwork and re-organisation we had planned is way behind schedule due to 'family circumstances' ........... we'll just have to 'go with the flow'.
What part of the country are you in Dove? I retired in early March and for most of the time since then it has either been cold and blowing a gale, or persisting down. Had a couple of weeks of decent weather but that's about it. Our crab apple normally comes into flower in mid April, this year is has literally started flowering in the last few days.
I did a lot of work in March which would have put me ahead, except that last autumn was so wet that I didn't get a lot of autumn stuff done at the right time, so I was playing catch up.
There are always loads of what I call 'domino jobs' too. You know the sort of thing - to knock over the last domino, you have to knock down umpteen others first, so to plant my primulas I have to finish the new bog garden bed,and that involves laying a drain, which needs gravel, and making an edge which needs rocks......
The week before last was snow and hail and freezing nights and now suddenly it's all warm and summery and the plants don't know what to make of it either. The leaves are opening as you watch and the buds on the magnolia and cherry trees are starting but many of the perennnials are barely off the starting blocks. The daffodils were on schedule but have fnished early because of the heat.
If I didn't have projects then I might be in with a fighting chance of at least keeping up a bit better, but projects are fun and stop things getting boring. So I just chase my tail and get things done as and when I can and the flowers still appear and if things aren't perfect yet they surely willl be next year
Well, I am glad to report after the last 4 days that I have caught up on my gardening tasks. The garden is looking all the better for it. Just got to cut the box hedges and chop back a pittosporum that has grown humungous!
PS. I normally look at posts a couple of times a day but I didn't realise until now having scrolled through 5 pages just how many posts I have missed with this new forum layout. Not good.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Posts
What part of the country are you in Dove? I retired in early March and for most of the time since then it has either been cold and blowing a gale, or persisting down. Had a couple of weeks of decent weather but that's about it. Our crab apple normally comes into flower in mid April, this year is has literally started flowering in the last few days.
I did a lot of work in March which would have put me ahead, except that last autumn was so wet that I didn't get a lot of autumn stuff done at the right time, so I was playing catch up.
There are always loads of what I call 'domino jobs' too. You know the sort of thing - to knock over the last domino, you have to knock down umpteen others first, so to plant my primulas I have to finish the new bog garden bed,and that involves laying a drain, which needs gravel, and making an edge which needs rocks......
The week before last was snow and hail and freezing nights and now suddenly it's all warm and summery and the plants don't know what to make of it either. The leaves are opening as you watch and the buds on the magnolia and cherry trees are starting but many of the perennnials are barely off the starting blocks. The daffodils were on schedule but have fnished early because of the heat.
If I didn't have projects then I might be in with a fighting chance of at least keeping up a bit better, but projects are fun and stop things getting boring. So I just chase my tail and get things done as and when I can and the flowers still appear and if things aren't perfect yet they surely willl be next year
Well, I am glad to report after the last 4 days that I have caught up on my gardening tasks. The garden is looking all the better for it. Just got to cut the box hedges and chop back a pittosporum that has grown humungous!
PS. I normally look at posts a couple of times a day but I didn't realise until now having scrolled through 5 pages just how many posts I have missed with this new forum layout. Not good.
I haven't gotten ready for winter yet much less spring!