Through the Garden Gate--January 2021

The garden has looked pretty dismal during January, either covered in snow or drenched with rain and puddles all over the bottom borders. I've often looked out of the house windows and thought the garden looked ok really (when there was no snow to hide it). But on closer inspection when the weather allowed me to get out and walk around, I could see how soggy the borders were and full of wet brown dead foliage. I know though that they will recover. All we need is some dry weather and the puddles drain away, the dead stuff dries up enough for me to clear them away and plants bounce back to life. In the past I've been concerned about the wet in the borders and if plants will survive, but in the damp borders are plants which love all that wet, so I know I will see them again.

There are signs of new life all over the garden. In the front garden, where I've planted most of the spring bulbs, I can see the green shoots of narcissi and crocus. The snowdrops are flowering now, I have to walk around to spot them though. They've only been there for the three years we have lived here and have not increased their numbers yet. It could be a long time, I think before I can see drifts of snowdrops from the house windows. But its nice to walk around and have these little surprises as new growth appears

In the back garden, the crab apple tree has delighted us with loads of bright orange/red fruit for months, but now the little apples have gone soggy. The birds are still not interested in the fruit, I don't know why. Perhaps I provide more interesting food on the bird table. Although the colour has now gone from this tree, walking round the garden down in the woodland border I can see that the witch hazel (hamamelis 'Jelena') is now in flower. This has lovely spidery, orange flowers. The contorted hazel has produced catkins, the hellebores have buds and look as if they will soon burst into flower and there are some little pink cyclamen under the silver birch.

Next to the crab apple tree there is a grass--miscanthus zebrinus which was given to me by my sister-in-law in a small pot about five or six years ago. I didn't plant it until we moved to this house and the first place I put it didn't seem to be the right place.  Now it loves where it is in full sun with plenty of space and it has really taken off. It has turned straw like now, but has some lovely feathery plumes, so still has lots of interest. Next month it will be time to cut it down ready for the new growth, but until then I will continue to enjoy looking at it.

I am linking this post to Sarah's blog at 'Down By the Sea' for her monthly 'Through the Garden Gate' post.

Bad weather but getting a few jobs done at the allotment

We've been having some really awful weather this month, when its not been snowing we've had really heavy rain. We haven't been out much because of the weather, and I'm so looking forward to being able to get down to the allotment again regularly. We've managed two visits to the plot recently when we had some fine, dry days, although it has been very cold so we didn't want to stay too long. We watch the weather forecasts and if there is likely to be any suitable days then we plan ahead to go and do some work. 

Its been lovely to get down to the plot on these two days so far and we've done quite a few jobs. On our first visit I went with a plan to start cleaning out the greenhouses, but instead I decided to dig up all the beetroot which was left and take it home to store in the shed. I expected the soil to be quite wet and soggy after all the rain, but it wasn't and was quite easy to weed and hoe the bed. I try to follow the

'no-dig method' of growing vegetables so the next job was to mulch with home made compost. It looks great now and will be ready for sowing and planting into when the soil warms up in the Spring.

There are still a lot of leeks growing but they are not looking too healthy, so I dug a few of those up.  And I was delighted to be able to pick brussels sprouts, this is the first time in years that I have had any success with growing them. I think they were in a more more sheltered spot and didn't get blown about by the wind.

The asparagus bed and adjoining cut flower bed was looking untidy so I cut the asparagus stems down and pulled up the dead flower stems.  This bed will get a mulch of compost too next time we go.

The rhubarb is coming through already and looking very colourful.

On our second visit to the plot we concentrated on clearing out the dead tomato and chilli plants from  the two greenhouses. Then I swept them both out and swilled with water.  They still need a good clean out, the windows and all the nooks and crannies will need washing down with disinfectant. I'm saving that job for a warmer day, it's one of my least favourite jobs.

It was good to get to the allotment, we felt we'd made a bit of progress getting the plot ready for Spring. I think the robin was pleased to see us he followed us round as we worked finding worms in the newly worked and composted beds. 

A snowy start to the new year

Christmas has now been packed away in boxes, except for the evergreen wreaths at the front and side of the house.  They are still fresh looking and I don't want to take them down yet. The house looks a little bare, so I bought some daffodils the other day, which bring a little brightness and cheer. Much as I love all the sparkle and glitter of Christmas, that's over with now and I want to look forward with hope to the Spring and daffodils give me that. Things are not good in the world at the moment, worse than they have been since the start of the crisis, so we all need a bit of hope to keep us going and to know that soon this shall pass. 

After Christmas we had snow here in Lancashire, lots of it and it's taking a long time to clear.  So there's no chance of doing any gardening jobs or going to the allotment yet. I have been feeding the birds, enjoying watching them on the feeders and walking around the garden spotting the changes taking place. The crab apple still has lots of orange/red fruit on its branches which the birds have been ignoring even in this cold weather. But now the fruit is going soft and mushy on the branches perhaps it will be more attractive to them. The brightness of the berries is a lovely splash of colour against the snow.

                                              

In the autumn I planted bulbs in pots, crocus, little tete a tete daffodils and tulips. Its lovely now to see little green shoots emerging from their snow topped pots on the patio and potting bench. This is my bit of hope that over the next few weeks they will continue to grow and will soon be flowering.                                   

Also in the autumn I planted up pots of hyacinths which I kept in the garage in the dark and brought out into the light in December to grow on. Some were ready and flowering at Christmas and some will have their buds opening soon. I bring them into the warmth of the house gradually so I will have a continuous display for several weeks. 

                                             

January can be quite a dreary, depressing month even when we're not going through these bad times, but I am trying to focus on the small, simple things which make me happy.

What's helping you at the moment during lockdown?

A happy, healthy and safe New Year everyone.