Showers with a chance of Spring

Mother Nature is tantalising us with the very occasional Spring day, interspersed with wet, cold, windy weather. (see postscript!) You can feel the warmth of the sun when it’s not covered by heavy rain clouds. But when the promise of Spring shines through, it’s wonderful. Trees are blossoming, birds are singing happily, so I’m not the only one waiting impatiently for Spring.

With the best will in the world, I don’t like gardening in Winter. Short, cold days…..bed says linger longer in the morning; the wood fire beckons during the day. Spirit willing, flesh weak and all that. Fortunately gardens don’t much like Winter either and don’t grow much.

With the warmer weather just around the corner, Ruprecht and I have kick started our garden chores. My new garden shoes got their initiation. Only trouble is, each year, the fallen branches are heavier, the ground is harder to dig over and the weeds are more resistant to my coaxing. Muscles complain, knees go on strike and the back forgets the meaning of the word upright. The joys of aging!

The garden has survived reasonably well (my new favourite word, Ruprecht) and is, dare I hope, getting a little less high maintenance. Current joys of gardening include the flowering camellias. They are getting bigger and more showy each year. The bright reds and pinks are a welcome sight during this drab time of the year. They are yet another source of food for the birds and they frolic through the flowers. The bulbs have also pushed their way through the cold ground and are starting to flower.

The vegetable garden still looks like it is in the clutches of Winter, but the garlic is thriving. The weeds in the other beds are telling me it’s time to give the beds some attention. Spring onions, snow peas and buk choy are happily growing in the warmth of the green house. Tomato and, fingers crossed, chilli seedlings are making their presence felt. My new challenge is to grow my veggies from my own seeds. Tomatoes and chillies are a good start. Wish me luck!

I am writing this in front of the fire on a day Mother Nature is letting us know it is still Winter, but not for much longer. Come back Spring, I miss you.

PS. That was 2 days ago. Winter has pulled out all the stops. To say the weather is feral would be an understatement. Icy winds, heavy downpours and thick grey clouds. Very cold. Very miserable.

PPS. Today is brilliant sunshine!