Fern unfurling

Lady Fern - Athyrium filix-femina

Last week there was just the remains of last year's leaves. In the last couple of days this clump has an explosion of new leaf fronds.

This week has been very warm and dry - not conducive for the normal spring activities in the garden of dividing/moving perennials. Good weather for digging up weeds though; but then again even better weather for just sitting and enjoying the new growth all around the garden and the sunshine!

First swallow spotted yesterday. Time to put at top of the to do list the painting of the fascia boards above where the house martin's nest as they'll be here within the next couple of weeks.

Rhubarb forcer lid forced off by rhubarb

.. as it should be! First crop of rhubarb pulled today.

Wild garlic

.... part of plans for lunch tomorrow.

Sunshine for most of the day yesterday. Today started with sun and clouds and then we had sharp showers in the afternoon.

Epimedium

Epimedium Sulphureum

One of my favourite plants for various reasons: it is happy in dry partial shade - this one is growing in close to full shade - and is evergreen through to when leaves are cut back to show the new leaves and the dainty flowers in spring. Some Epimediums also have leaves that turn rust red in autumn to add to their all year round charm. This week's weather has been glorious wall to wall sunshine. This is set to change mid week this week - much as it is nice to enjoy the sunshine the garden is in definite need of a watering. Some of the seeds planted in the greenhouse last weekend are already sprouting (mainly lettuces both in modules and in the greenhouse beds)! Have needed to cover the root and onion bed with mesh to stop the sparrows dust bathing and disturbing/eating the seeds - the other sowings in the veg patch are already covered in cloches.

Dwarf Prunus in full flower

Prunus icisa Kojo-no-mai. A dwarf prunus - height and spread 120x90cm. Happy spring!

Was planning on a day in the greenhouse as the forecast was for a cloudy day. Do love it when the forecast is wrong in favour of glorious weather! Sunshine all day which coincided with the first day I am feeling well enough to spend a full day in the garden. Greenhouse prepared for sowing of various seeds; soft fruit beds ready for training of new growth (and last year growth fully pruned out); etc etc. I even ended up wearing shorts ..... that'll be a frost being on the forecast for tonight then!

Spring Clean

Glorious day today. Spent a couple of productive hours clearing some of the stems and seedheads from last year. Have left the last of the asters as their seeds were being attacked by a flock of goldfinches this morning.

Young DayLilly leaves in spring sunshine

February Gold - part two

This time the Daffodil of that name.

Daffodil 'February Gold' with a self seeded cow parsley 'Ravenswing' seedling

Mild weather at the start of the week with a couple of lovely days of sunshine encouraged the appearance of these joyful flowers late in the month of their name. The rest of the weather this week has been showers, some very heavy, which strangely happened to coincide with days when my menfolk could have 1) cut the tall hedge 2) cleared the driveway of leaves.

Cleaning in the greenhouse

Not me doing further cleaning just yet - although plan on getting some planting of seeds happening in the next couple of weeks. 'Cleaning' in two variaties via my 4 chooks using the main bed in the greenhouse for a dust bath and them ensuring that the greenhouse is clear of any bugs.

Columbian BlackTail overseeing the dust bath exercises of the three Speckeldy's

The chooks have had the run of the garden over winter but will need to restrict this soon as more tender shoots start appearing.

PS Weather this week has been a right old mix of sun with some warmth and rain with cold winds. Typical unpredictable week in February in the UK.

February Gold

Weather was wonderful yesterday and is foul, as in rain and strong winds, today. This time last year we had covering of snow. Whatever the weather there are some stalwarts in February:

Winter Jasmine

The last flowers. Growing through the apple cordons.

Will try and see if it wll grow under the yew tree at the end of this year.

Euonymous foutunei

The colour shines through despite it being in a corner that gets very little sun.

February flowers

Mild at 10C. The front that has been feeding off the E Coast of US is throwing rain and wind across the midlands; we're getting just a bit of wind and very little rain. A touch of sun thrown in every now and then.

Snowdrops with the buds of Hellibore Orientalis in the background