Spring has sprung!

The weekend has been a warm one and the mercury hit 23 degrees C - that's hot for Scotland at this time of the year.

Already the neighbours are in regular grass cutting mode during the week and the grass looks like it does in summer. One set of neighbours are already on their second day with the bbq. I didn't have the heart to spoil their peace and quiet with my mower....I'm pretty lucky with my neighbours they're all a great bunch so my mowing can wait another day and they get to enjoy their garden uninterrupted.

Walking around my garden tonight enjoying the very warm sunshine, i noticed my Spirea 'Bridal Wreath' has tentatively flowered....a whole month early. It usually flowers in May in these here parts but this year it's in April. That means spring is here!

Spotted a Swallow yesterday so summer can't be far away, the geese are also flying off after their winter break. Significant numbers of Greylag and Wigeon geese overwinter on the Cromarty Firth. I love to see these making their practice runs. I'm always amazed how they know to fly in a 'v' formation. A few oyster catchers are nesting nearby and they are so funny in that they nest in the unlikeliest of places. Their nests are on the ground and they seem to spend a lot of time chasing passers by. Some even nest on the local golf course near the fourth tee, quite interesting if your ball lands within a reasonable distance of the nest site, they have been known to try and move the golf ball; now if only i could train one to drop it next to the hole.

I've got lots of veggies in pots and desperate to put them out but i'm still worried there may be frosts. I did put them out today in the hot sunshine...not sure they were appreciative of the increased light intensity. Talking of pots i had sown some nasturtiums at Easter in the veggie garden and noticed they are putting up shoots already. Not surprising considering the warmer weather. Must plant more of these....it's a plant that i've only recently discovered and adore with a passion. It's funny how i've ignored it for years to become a complete convert.

Kiwi Jenny is still putting on growth and very pretty the leaves are too, they are multi-coloured and furry. With the promising weather i'm hopeful for a good display this year. Finally got the wires on the fence so she's got something to cling too.

There is an Almenchier tree just outside my garden fence in the wild section which is visible from the bedroom window and it's grown over the past five years to be a nice size and at the moment is covered with a beautiful froth of white flowers. This area runs alongside the veggie garden and is covered with Rosa Rugosa roses and in the summer they look stunning and afford some privacy from the public footpath and also attract birds and bees. I have plans to extend the planting further with some Blackthorn's (Prunus Spinosa) so i can harvest Sloes. Had hoped to get some in last year but time moved quicker than my planning.

Popped to the garden centre today too.....came back with lots of goodies for the Ornamental Garden. Lots of perennials to put in to fill up some of the spaces between the shrubs. I was like a kiddie in a sweetie shop. I bought more violas as the ones i bought last year have already flowered and i was lured by the scent in the garden centre. They sure add colour to the garden, sadly lacking at this time of the year for me. Note to self to get daffodil bulbs in this fall to ensure more spring colour next year. That's me though always thinking ahead! I also bought the lavender for the paths on the steps in the veggie garden as companion planting for the currant bushes. Hopefully i will be able to smell the fragrance from my seating area.

Whilst at the garden centre i was eyeing up the box hedging. D'oh forgot to measure out the area for the hedging and see how many i will need. The knot garden idea has taken root now that i've identified the possible space. At the moment it's not very inspiring with my clothes pole in the middle of a gravelled area. A knot garden may be the answer as i can still keep the stones, yet another jotting in my notebook for future ideas and plans fuelled by a suggestion of lavender for the box garden. I quite liked the idea and as usual my mind is working overtime and now a mixture of box on the outside with lavender on the inside of the knot garden is taking shape....hmmm must really get this down in my jotter.

End March 2007

Well what a weekend...weather was glorious. Hope it continues at least for a wee while whilst i get everything done.

I spent the whole weekend in the garden trying to get caught up a bit. The soil was in a good workable state, excellent for sowing and planting.

I managed to get some vegetables sown in the seed bed and i've also put in shallots, really felt good to be getting things in. Still to pop my tatties in and hopefully if the weather continues i'll get these in next weekend. Also been sowing lots in trays and managed to get the impatiens pricked out too. They look better already.

The weed seeds were starting to germinate and whilst it narks that they're back, it's better to get on top now before they get a grip. I managed to clear a small bed and a big bed, but still a bit more to do just now. Also planted some primulas and transplanted some tete-a-tete daffodils i'd been growing in pots, made it look a bit more colourful until the other plants catch up.

The grass has fair grown and could do with a haircut. I heard my neighbours firing up their mowers today but i've decided that can be done in the lighter nights in the week if the weather holds. I wanted to get to grips with things that needed a good four hours or so to get done.

I managed to get a bit of time sat in the garden whilst taking a break and sowing seeds in trays. Must say it was really nice sitting in the heat of the sun and just potting up and sowing seeds. The birds seemed busy nest building and the whole day had a peaceful feel to it...but the type that you only get in Spring. The calmness and freshness just before everything erupts and goes daft.

I noticed one of my cats had found herself a prime spot for sleeping in the sun....the water feature! She's known for getting in odd places such as bathroom sinks for a snooze but this has to be the weirdest place as yet I've found her. Before she'd decided to take a siesta she'd been busy running around the garden letting her daft out...usually a sign that spring is nearly here.

I also managed to get my Fatsia Japonica repotted into a much larger pot. It had been in it's previous pot three years and I felt that it needed a bit more room. When the root ball was revealed I seemed to have got it right, so hopefully it's new pot will be it's home for another three years. Not sure what i'll do with it after that as it will be some size of root ball. Will have two choices which will be to root prune it or plant it in the garden. It's not that hardy for the climate this far north so not sure this is a good idea, just in case we do have a really hard Winter one year. At least with a pot I can put it under cover, never mind have three years to decide.

Springs on it's way!

Spring is well and truly on it's way and the plants are echoing this by starting to grow with the longer days. Managed to get out in the garden last week and make a start and it felt really good to get out there again. The sun was shining and it was nice and warm until 4pm when a fleece jacket made it comfortable. I managed to stay in the garden until the light started fading at 6pm.

Made a start on the front garden and started getting it into shape for the Spring/Summer. Cut the grass, edged it and weeded the borders around the edge. Looked a lot smarter! Just need to weed and feed the grass.

I cut rose bushes back very hard and whilst doing so i noticed that greenfly was already evident on the buds. An indication of just how warm the winter has been as this far north i don't see these until much later in the year...time to get out the soapy spray already.

Plug plants have started arriving and Geraniums are resting in the Utility room after there journey from Jersey. More to come. This is the first time i've used Jersey Plants and very pleased with condition and stage of growth. The plants look very healthy and the price was reasonable too, will definitely buy from them again. Must get these potted on tomorrow and will harden off in about four to six weeks for going outside.

I am planning to start sowing my seeds during the week. Have been making lots more paper pots and they are everywhere. Just need to get my compost ready and will start sowing in earnest.

Usually start beetroot off in modules and pot them on until before they start expanding. Starting off this year in paper pots and growing in the cold frames i've recently sited before planting them out under cloches in rows. Hopefully the paper pots will reduce the amount of root disturbance which can occur with the modules, that said I've found this to be a very good way to get beetroot growing.

Need to get my cloches made to warm up the soil. Have got some alkathene water pipe which i'll cut to size and put short lengths of bamboo in the ends and then insert these into the ground. Cover with polythene and hey presto....cloches and a lot cheaper.