A TV weather presenter recently referred to the weather we are having at the moment as 'yo-yo weather'. I think that's a good description, up and down, rain for a few days, then a dry day. If you're a fine weather gardener then I suppose you just sit back with a good book and wait for the spring. But there's lots to be done in our garden and down the allotment, so on fine days I rush outside to get a few jobs done.
We managed to get to the allotment twice last week. The paths were slippy with mud and moss and there was water running out of the gate. The lane outside the plot was really muddy. I was glad that we had finished manuring all the beds so there was no need to disturb them. Richard started work on mending the two of the compost bins which were broken and I set to cleaning out the little greenhouse. I had cleaned out the big greenhouse in the autumn, but the other one still had the dead remains of the chillies, peppers and cucumbers. Once they had been got rid of the greenhouse got a good sweep and scrub down with disinfectant. It's always a good feeling to see the greenhouse spotlessly clean ready for the new growing season.
I am a lists person and my allotment journal always has a current list of jobs which need doing. I was pleased to be able to cross cleaning the greenhouse off the list. The problem with lists though is that you never get to end of them because there are always more jobs to be added. And as we sat having our lunch at the table under the tree I noticed that the cold frames needed cleaning too. Another job to add to my list. A gardener's work is never done! Also as I sat there I spotted a flash of blue peeping out from the debris under the tree and there was a little iris reticulata in flower. A sign of hope that Spring is not far away.
We too have a long list of stuff that needs doing in the garden. We're fortunate to have a large garden, so we can grow all we need in the bottom half of the garden. Our green house is waiting for a good clear out too. We don't grow flowers, but our flowerbeds self-seed and are full of plants that just take care of themselves. All we need is a dry day to get stuck into the work!
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to drier weather, Jane, I hope it won't be long coming.
DeleteThe weather has kept us away from the allotment I’m afraid. Whenever it hasn’t been wet and miserable we have had other commitments.
ReplyDeleteThat's often the problem Sue, there are so many other things which need to be done. When I was working I used to think that when I retired I would be able to spend all day every day gardening. Not so.
DeleteYou have been busy,the ground here is so wet and it has been so cold that we have hardly ventured into the garden. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteRoll on Spring!
Delete