Ceanothus and sage in flower and there ae still tomatoes ripening- not sure how, as we've had a half-dozen ground frosts so far.

Nonetheless, I must get up and at 'em- straggly browning plants and pots strewn all over the garden.

I think it's time to shake off the mower shavings and look garden-ward, now the Christmas season is, to us at least, a bygone.

The mild conditions once again are bringing surprises, including more blossoms on the oranges, a silly tomato still in green leaf with little green set fruits, and leaves uncurling on the rhubarb.

Usual fayre includes snowdrop tips whitening and crocus spikes all over the lawn.

37 crocuses flowering on the north lawn; 7 snowdrop bunches shimmering in the woodland bank.

Snowdrops have appeared in force over the last couple of weeks - curiously, later than usual given that it's been such a mild winter

Tete a tete daffodils will be blooming soon. The buds are showing yellow. 11 Snowdrops are still in flower. Saw one light mauve crocus in flower in the grass by th side of the bungalow. started to buy herb seeds First packet was Dill. Still got Basil from las year's packet.

Doesn't take much to throw the back out and so i I didn't do much and the back is complaining. Big bunch of Cana split off into to big clumps and some misplaced summer bulbs split and repotted ( Wish they were Garlic! they must of put on over 500% of their bilk when I plkanted them 2 years ago!)

Pond sorted ready for spawn ( will try and save some from the beast but not too many as it is still mordor beyond my fence so there's nowhere for the blighters to go...... one more year in the belly of whatever beast is gobbling the spawn!).

The dry has meant I also got the decks scrubbed into summer order and away from the winter skating rink that they become! 

Now resting my back in the last of the sun ( of course cloud is coming in now....great!!!)

I'm debating with myself whether to plant my first early potatoes over the weekend. I usually leave it a little later for fear of frost but the fairly benign conditions of late are making me think about giving them a head start. I've got a fine royal collection of potato seed this year. Red Duke of York as first earlies, British Queens(a very popular crop in Ireland, ironically enough) as second earlies and then King Edwards and Record for my main crop.

Originally Posted by: NMA

A bit risky perhaps Lionel. Is it still a tradition to get them in on Good Friday?

The salad fields are beginning operation in this part of Dorset. They were irrigating yesterday which is of course early.

Yes, probably a bit risky alright  Apparently, the traditional date for first planting here is St. Patrick's day. I really can't figure that one out though because we can expect sharpish frosts most years well into April and I'm in a reasonably mild location so mid March seems a silly time to plant. Still, I think that I'll chance it this year. I chitted my Red Duke of York a few weeks ago and they are just begging to be put in the ground at this stage. If we do get frost, I will try to cover them overnight in newspaper or something  I just have a feeling that this is a year that I might get away with it. 

Originally Posted by: tevo

Need some serious rain today to wash the chicken poo pellets in to the lawn

Our neighbours are keen users of chicken poo. It doesn't half pong though. Minimal rain today as expected though might just get a light shower looking at the radar.