Garden Stirrings

 The gloom of winter is starting to lift, there are still faint shreds on light in the sky at 6pm now, and as well as the emergences of colour I've shown you from around the town, I've noticed that things are stirring in my crocus planters too.

If anything, they are ahead of this time last year, I don't recall the flower heads appearing by mid February in 2022. 

I don't know about you - although I doubt any of you would disagree - but I'm glad the days are starting to lengthen, and I won't be cycling home in the dark for much linger, and I'll be able to go for walks in the evening, and that the frosts will hopefully soon be gone for another year.

Cycling in the lowest temperatures we've had for a fair few years was no fun at all. 

Obviously there still might be a sting in the tail to come this season, but as I do every year, I feel this tremendous relief when March begins to get closer on the calendar, and my mental health takes a bit of a boost.

I hope it does for you as well.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 14.02.23

Crocuses Rampant

 Well, here I am, back again.

Truth is I've been unwell. My sister came over to visit, we went out for the evening, and then the following Sunday two days later, I went down with some sort of virus. 

Achey limbs, foggy head, a bit of a cough, a bit of nausea...I thought I knew where this was heading, but I took a C19 test that was negative. So, it was nothing more than a cold type thing, albeit a cold that flattened me rather more than most of those viral beasties do. 

I was really unable to do very much at all for about 5 days, and felt very sorry myself. Tried to go for a walk or two but it really wasn't happening, I don't handle being ill well at all, it makes me very gloomy, but my body was utterly uninterested in doing nothing other than lazing about.

This seems to be the same for a lot of people at the moment, two years isolated from most organisms and then BANG! one comes along and wipes you out. 

Luckily over the last two or three days I've finally felt better, if inclined to sneeze. I was able to get out for 90 minutes yesterday, to take in the explosion of colour in the cemetery as the purple and white crocuses have exploded into life, seemingly in the course of about 48 hours over the weekend. 

They are, as ever, an utterly stunning sight, but given the brightness of the weather on Monday, I'm slightly surprised that there were any bees or bumbles feeding off them. 

Perhaps they have caught colds as well.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.02.22

Gardening Funs

 So this autumn, I have got hold of some planters, two big bags of potting compost, and have planted my first ever bulbs, the first time I can say I've ever done any "proper" garden.

Of course, I have made sure they are pollinator friendly, and so have put in two planters and a pot of crocuses, and two planters and a pot of various forms of allium. I'm hoping for some vibrant colour and bees and butterflies in my gravel postage stamp of a garden next year!

In spring, I intend to try the same with some wildflower meadow seeds, as apparently that is the best time to plant them. I might even try some food plants too, I've never eaten anything I've grown. Tomatoes maybe. 

My sonetti has decided to make a valiant attempt to come back into flower, but is very slow at it in this cold weather, and I'm wondering if this first cold snap of winter will stop it dead, although we didn't get any snow here. 

The last few days I've been really lazy, especially today where I haven't left the house, so have yet to test my new monocular bought from Millets - I can't go in there without coming out with some silly gadget or other!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.11.21