I associate daffodils in flower with Spring so imagine my surprise when on 29th December I saw daffodils in flower at the Glendaruel Caravan park. Some others have been seen in flower in recent weeks and some of ours may be in flower by early March. But December is ridiculous. Snowdrops were a little late this year and crocus have just started.
Some of our early rhododendrons are in flower and have so far avoided the frost damage which so often spoils them. I saw a rhododendron praecox today and must have one for next year. We had one in our Colintraive garden and the flowers which cover the bush give a wonderful early splash of pale purple.
Frog spawn has appeared as usual late in February and some croaking and splashing is heard as you approach the pond. Our local woodpecker is very busy. I am glad not to have to bang my head on a tree to get food! Apart from the very early daffodils signs of climate change this Spring are few.
Garden plans are changing. Now that roof repairs are finished climbing roses will be grown on the south facing gable again. I have planted Golden showers, Zephirine Drouhin, Dorothy Perkins and an unknown red. It may be rather crowded. A new rose only bed is being prepared  as they do not like competing with other plants. Many small and sickly trees have been dropped and more will follow. I am determined to let in more  light but will leave to the experts the felling of a number of Leylandii which have become too large. What a pity I still have no wood burning stove.
Potatoes have been grown in the same patch for the last two years which means none this year but instead more vegetables. The head gardener gave me a fleece tunnel which may allow an earlier crop of whatever. I may try lettuce, carrots and beetroot. The recent dry spell allowed almost all the garden rubbish to be burnt. A bonfire is a satisfying thing which brings out the wee boy in me. But I am not very good at starting the fire. Instead of creating a good going hot centre I tend to pile on branches as soon as the fire catches which has one result - it goes out! I must learn to be patient.

Tom Mowat

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 12:09 pm and is filed under Environment, Flora, Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.