Wet wet wet

We've been abroad for most of February, watching the weather reports of repeated storms hitting the UK (and much of the rest of Europe).  The heavy rain, falling on what was already waterlogged ground, has caused much flooding, with the Severn valley hit badly as usual; up here we are clear of any standing water, but the ground is very wet and I don’t think I’ll be sowing any seed in it for a little while yet.  The gales have brought down a lot of dead ash wood, and more strong wind is forecast for this weekend so there may be more firewood to come.  Today started with a light covering of snow that had fallen overnight, the first real fall of the winter, but it melted quickly – adding to the general wetness.

When we left there were a few daffodils already in bud and I rather thought that more of them would be out when we got back, but only some of the miniatures are actually in bloom; the others are sitting there waiting for some warmer sun.  The snowdrops and winter aconites are past their peak, but some of the crocuses are out; sadly the rain and wind have battered the little Crocus tommasinianus ('Tommies') ‘Whitewell Purple’ which are delicate little things, and they’re mostly lying prostrate in the grass.  However I’m pleased to see that the tulips which I planted (shamefully late) in pots before we left are producing healthy-looking crops of leaves (whether they flower is another matter; a lot of them are last year’s bulbs).  The pulmonarias and sweet violets are coming out – I have a little posy of the latter on the table here, pumping out perfume; and of course the hellebores are in full flow.  

Battered Tommies

Helleborus x hybridus - a nice pink form

Rhubarb 'Timperley Early'

The veg patch is looking a little dishevelled, with bits of ash twig everywhere and some of the plastic covering one of my ‘no-dig’ beds having blown off, so some tidying up is in order.  The garlic and shallots are sprouting, and from a quick peek under the fleece I see that the broad beans are germinating.  The Rhubarb ‘Timperley Early’ is ready for picking, though its immediate surroundings are in need of some weeding.

Now I’m back it’s time to get on with the indoor sowings.  The aubergines were sown in January and have germinated, and the peppers and chillies are next on the list.  They need warmth, so spend their first weeks in the house (on a radiator to germinate, then on a sunny windowsill), where they will be joined in due course by the tomatoes.  I ought to get some salad crops going in the greenhouse, and perhaps some carrots in lengths of guttering.  It will soon be time to start the dahlias off as well.  The greenhouse has not been heated this winter – it hasn’t got really cold, and even without the heater the temperature hasn’t fallen below 1.7C – but it should be suitable for the non-tender subjects.  Depending on the weather I may need some heating when we get to the big seed-sowing operation later in March (although the propagator will help there).

The birds seem pleased with my return, especially given the snow this morning; the feeders have been replenished and a rotten windfall apple put down for the blackbirds.  The long-tailed tits have been busy at the peanuts and fatballs, and while I was checking progress in the veg patch my bottom-of-the-garden robin friend came and talked to me - whether it was a "welcome back" or a "where do you think you've been all this time?" I'm not sure.