Allotments 4 All

The first yellow crocus is open and I'm sure I saw something move in the pond ;D

Loads of snowdrops around now, lovely crocus and lots of daffodil shoots at Temple Newsam in Leeds this afternoon, and I've started my potatoes chitting. It's nearly here!

It was a nice warm springlike day yesterday, with the bees flying freely, but today it's colder and miserable.

Cold and miserable here too... but I've succumbed and put some Aquadulce to soak ready to plant later..  ::)

Its nice to think that spring is on its way.   The snow drops are lovely and the forsythia is almost there another sunny day and it will open up.  Daffs also nearly there, but I am not convinced we have finished with winter yet.

Sowed some broccolli in pots on windowsill and some carrots under plastic bottles.

Well all my broad beans are in the ground, staked and have one or two leaves up  :)  The Rhubarb has a two inch stem with a leaf but the gloomy clouds and icy feel to the air are still here.

Just goes to show that although still winter, how happy things get with a blast of sunshine

Cold and dark here but at least the plum tree is showing signs of comming into bud :)

Seen crocuses around and even a few daffs. No flowers on trees yet but surely can't be long. It was 13deg C here today :-)

I will start chitting early potatoes this weekend and plant my echalotes and a last lot of garlic.
Aubergines and peppers and leeks are started off in pots on the windowsill (actually on top of the piano...!)

The flower buds on my Cambridge Gage are just beginning to swell a little.

Oooh, I'll have to check mine on Monday... dark now and I'm going away..  ::)

Yes but disappointingly my first snowdrop flowered in September. The rest having been flowering since mid January. Crocuses are flowering. Gooseberry is coming into leaf...and some raspberries. Damson buds are swelling and the blackcurrants are close to bursting.
I also know it's spring because a muscle in my back is in spasm...shifting wood chip!

Three daffodils.  ;D

Yesterday I noticed the flower buds forming on the hellebores in the garden  :)

The snowdrops on the bank in our allotment wildlife area seem to be earlier than last year - perhaps its because we had the cold snap in early December and then January was reasonably mild.  They've made huge clumps this year so will divide them up - most came from my garden at home but they didn't do very well so they are much better on the allotment for all to see
Lots of frogs about (so the crows are having a feast!) but no spawn so far

I have a mass of violets in flower on the rockery, all the crocus are out, & the daffodills are showing colour.
Something (no fish) is obviously moving in the pond as one of my cats has spent all day on her rock peering in to it.

Primroses flowering at the sides of the plot, daffodils nearly open, perhaps tomorrow they will be open fully!  :)

Loads of snowdrops at the side of the roads, must be nearly here now!  ;D

Quote from: Kea on February 18, 2011, 17:50:08
Yes but disappointingly my first snowdrop flowered in September. The rest having been flowering since mid January.

Why is that disappointing? There's a species - expensive - that regularly  flowers in autumn. Wish I could afford some!

Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on February 18, 2011, 19:45:06

Quote from: Kea on February 18, 2011, 17:50:08
Yes but disappointingly my first snowdrop flowered in September. The rest having been flowering since mid January.

Why is that disappointing? There's a species - expensive - that regularly  flowers in autumn. Wish I could afford some!

It's just not as exciting to have 'spring' flowers arrive so early and flower continuously as well (I've had snow drops in flower most of winter), it ruins the surprise.
It wasn't anything special as far as I'm aware I bought it in the green as just one of the most common forms. Though next year I'll have a closer look and check it's not a different more special variety.

You must have had a much warmer winter than we have! Everything was frozen hard for several weeks before Christmas, and the snowdrops didn't emerge till mid-January.

Found one lonesome snowdrop in the garden but my hellebores look beautiful, noticed the mornings are getting lighter and the evenings are drawing out. started sowing few seeds, tomatoes, lupins, chilles, in the spare room. Bought few wilkos petunis plug plants and potted those on - early i know but couldnt resist.
off work at mo as have pulled muscle in my back so looking out at my garden is as near as i can get - think id get stuck in the car if i tried diving to lottie :(