It’s been a cold week but night time temperatures look to be on the rise for next week. I may try to sow a few seeds. I’ve been cutting back the brown stuff, admiring the ability of weeds to keep on coming at me and the patch on the lawn for a new flower bed has had the turf stripped. It is very dense with the old fig tree roots but I’m hoping a few annuals will find a home there. There’s much on the way in the garden but not much in flower, but six must be offered each week and here they are.
One
There’s always a cry to sow a few early carrots and over the years I have tried: buying early varieties, warming up the soil by covering it with cloches, waiting until the weeds start growing before sowing but it never comes to anything. Last year I didn’t sow until the end of May. This year I have been tempted to sow a few seeds in a deep pot in the unheated greenhouse. I have germination so I am intrigued to see how they will progress. I will update regularly.
Two
So very nearly, almost there. The first flowers on the clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’ have been spotted. This is mine but it sprawls wonderfully over to my neighbour’s side where it is much appreciated. I think it does better there!
Three
I have climbing hydrangeas growing up a fence on the North side of the garden. A few weeks ago the soil here was frozen but the hydrangea buds are now opening. They have taken a few years to establish but I think it is looking good for this year.
Four
An East facing corner of the garden is home to tulips, aquilegia, phlox, geums and hardy geraniums. They are all putting on good growth and although it will be a while before the flower explosion takes place it is very encouraging to see everything reappear.
Five
I’ve been to the garden centre for compost and of course their tempting displays of spring bulbs in pots called to me. I bought a trio of pots of snakeshead fritillaries to plant along side the hellebores. I couldn’t bring myself to plant them out last weekend as there was evidence of slugs and snails. That hasn’t changed but the plants are a little taller now and the flowers have formed. It’s time to be brave.
Six
Lastly, three pots of hydrangea macrophylla ‘Little White’ that I’ve had since Autumn. These are destined for the North facing border. It’s a dwarf variety that grows to approx 60cms. They are replacing the pittosporum that were lost over the winter of 2023. This whole border needs an edit so they’ll be in their pots for a few weeks more.
The compost heap was filling up with the March cut back material and so some turning was required. Gently does it as the toads over-winter there and I was pleased to spot one very fat one. There were plenty of worms too. No doubt there will also be a crop of interesting seeds which will reveal themselves once the finished compost in the last bin is used. There were no visits to the Daughter’s New Garden this week. I don’t think I’ll be back there until April by which there could be much more in evidence. Hopefully it will include a new lawnmower! Recommendations for small lithium battery lawn mowers gratefully received.
Wishing you a happy gardening week and hoping that a visit to Jim’s Garden can be fitted in as well.
n20gardener 
Lots of plans for your garden, very exciting. What with your daughter’s plot and yours you are going to be very busy. What a joy to see the clematis flowers! Have a good week.
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Thank you. You too. There’s nothing like somebody else’s garden to get you going!!
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I struggle getting carrots to grow too. This year I will try them in raised beds that are currently being warmed by the cold frames.
I do love a Fritillary!
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Wishing you luck with the carrots. Sounds like a good combination.
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I also started some carrot seedlings, but I did them in the greenhouse. I hope the temperature will be sufficient for them to germinate. The snakehead fritillaries look very advanced in your photos. Whereas here they are still at the first leaf stage.
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I suspect the fritillaries have been brought on to sell in the garden centre. Mine in the ground are like yours. Only just emerging.
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I am a huge fan of snake’s head fritillary. Don’t have any of my own, but they are so pretty!
I found a method I like for carrots: I had a couple cinderblocks, so I tried turning one on end so that they were like a two hole planter, 14 inches deep, with clay native soil below. I filled the holes with “organic garden soil” which is a loose compost I buy from time to time, not too much nitrogen, It is intended to be mixed with your existing soil, but it worked great for carrots. The carrots grew long and straight, were easy to pull, and were delicious and tender even when quite large. I only had one that hit the clay soil below and had a little bend at the tip. Last year I planted a basil in a cinderblock which was also kind of fun. I tried carrots and beets in native unamended soil, and found some success, but the roots were small, I suppose it was not east for to penetrate the clay.
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Interesting. My seedlings are in bought in compost. I’ll update on progress.
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Carrots perform too well for us. I LOATHE carrots! However, they grow like weeds. Yes, I grow them, but only because everyone else likes them. Beets, which are my favorite root vegetable, do not perform nearly as well. My neighbors suggest growing more carrots instead. ICK!
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My Snake’s Head Fritillaries never seem to be bothered by the S&S. I wish I could say the same for my narcissi which seem to be getting nibbled again this year – not as bad as last thank goodness. Your east facing corner looks exciting and I really like the dwarf hydrangeas. I need to do a lot of remedial work this year, but I have to wait until certain things (yes I am looking at you Alliums) have flowered! BTW I seem to have got rid of most of the cinquefoil – I dug a lot out and the stuff that was growing in the wall I sprayed with white vinegar.
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You’re very generous with clematis ‘Apple Blossom’. I’m always pulling my various clematis back in from the neighbour’s side of the fence. They’re not gardeners and I sometimes wonder if they appreciate me removing my climbers from their space – or if they would prefer to see the flowers. I should ask. Plenty of new growth going on in your garden – great signs of what’s to come.
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I asked my neighbour and as the clematis is expansive gave her free rein to cut it back! But she loves it too. I do pull bits back otherwise it would all head in and that direction!
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Love the Snakeshead Fritillaries: How fun! You have a lot more happening in your garden than I do…but things are happening for both of us, so that’s encouraging. Spring is on the way! It’s fun to see the new plants emerging and flourishing.
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It’s all beginning again and although patience is needed it is encouraging.
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I’ve never had any luck with carrots so well done on the germination part. I’m looking forward to seeing all those tulips, geums, etc., in flower.
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Sowing carrots in deep pots is the only way that works for me. Direct sown they are invariably grazed off by slugs. I plant the whole potfull as soon as there’s enough root to hold the compost togetherand the tops are an inch or so high and big enough to withstand the munching.
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That’s a good tip. I was going to leave them in the pot. I might sow another pot and do that.
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Your clematis armandii is looking vigorous indeed! How pretty. I’m glad for the reminder about climbing hydrangeas. I might try to fit one into my new shade garden. I love your east garden with all the bulbs and other flowers just getting ready to spring to life!
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The climbing hydrangea is a good idea for a shady place.
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