Doris day

After some reasonably settled weather, the wind has come back with Storm Doris passing this way last Thursday.  It blew down a lot more ash twigs into the garden, and part of a roof slate, but otherwise didn't do any damage.  There is to be more (but less severe) wind over the coming week, and more rain too.

Snowdrops outside the window

The snowdrops, winter aconites and Cyclamen coum are still performing well, and the Crocus tommasinianus 'Whitewell Purple' are also out, with some of the early crocus ('Cream Beauty') in one of the pots well in bud.  There are also a lot of hellebore flowers, and one bloom on the self-sown pulmonaria over by the wall (must find a better home for it), and the daffodils will be out soon, especially those in the front garden.  The winter honeysuckle is finally blooming well; three bullfinches were feasting on its buds the other day, which might explain why it was late into flower this winter.  Fortunately most of our bird visitors are content with the food we put out specifically for them, and with the local buglife.

Aubergine 'Bonica' seedlings

A few weeks ago I sowed aubergine and chilli seeds, hoping to get them off to an early start.  Not worth starting up the propagator for them, so I brought them indoors and they've germinated nicely in the utility room.  As last year, aubergine 'Ophelia' is a slow starter (and last year's seedlings failed entirely) but 'Bonica' is coming up well.  They're currently living on a windowsill indoors.  I'll get the tomatoes going soon in the same way.  Outside, I see that the birds have dug up some of my shallot sets, so they will need to be replanted; and, with all this wind, it's time to tie in the broad bean plants in the hope that this year they'll grow straight!

Snowdrop posy (Galanthus elwesii)

Mist, mizzle and murk

Another nice sunset, in good weather

The bright, clear weather has given way to dismal, dull and downright wet conditions, with frequent mist and fog; at times it has been frosty and very chilly, though the last few days have been milder.  Today has been slightly better, mild and with a few welcome flashes of sunshine, but there are gales forecast in a day or two.  I suppose we can't really complain, as the winter had been on the dry side so far, and we haven't had anything at all extreme.  The snowdrops don't seem to mind; the larger ones (Galanthus elwesii and G. atkinsii) are out, and the doubles (G. nivalis flore pleno) won't be far behind.  The daffodil shoots are poking up well in some places too, and the winter aconites are also coming out.

Galanthus atkinsii

Galanthus elwesii

Galanthus nivalis flore pleno

Daffodils coming up under the plum tree

Rhubarb 'Timperley Early'

I took advantage of today's better weather to get the shallots planted; a pile of autumn leaves was spread on top, which I hope might discourage the birds from digging them up, at least until they can get some roots down.  It's a technique that seems to have worked well for the garlic, which is shooting nicely.  The autumn-sown broad beans are standing up well to the weather, and the rhubarb ('Timperley Early') is showing the first buds.  One outstanding job is to prune the apple tree; I've been waiting until the last apples fall but there are still a couple (much pecked-at) at the top.  If the weather permits I may go ahead anyway.

The guardians of the remaining apples, the mistle thrushes, seem to be a pair now; they were both sitting preening in the tree last week.  The patio robins are also still together, and the almost-tame front-garden robin - which I now think is a female - has a mate who sits and sings in the tangle of shrubs between us and the neighbours' garden.  I cleared some of the fallen leaves from under the ash tree by the drive today, and both came down to inspect the bare earth underneath, as did one of the blackbirds who have been enjoying the windfall apples I put out on the drive.  In fact I'm thinking that we have five robins in the garden, as the patio interloper is also still around from time to time; there's a robin who sits and sings down in the Dump corner of the garden, and it may well be him.  The bird total for the Big Garden Birdwatch was quite good; although the long-tailed tits didn't come that day, the willow tit did and so did one of the mistle thrushes, and at least two male greenfinches.  It's good to see them after the bird pox that almost wiped them out round here.