There are merely a few signs that Spring is here and right now it feels like Winter is having a good old go at clinging on with its icy finger nails clamped tightly on this patch of the world; putting the growing season temporarily on hold and forcing me to seek the warmth of the wood burner, mugs filled with tea and oven-warm cake. Although I’m pretty sure that no matter what the weather has in store, the latter two will always have a place in my life.Just a couple of weeks ago the soil started to dry, buds started to bulge and the chickens upped their egg laying efforts. Today, however, the soil is once again wet and icy cold, many buds have fallen dormant stuck in a catatonic state just waiting for the starting pistol and my chickens, though still laying, are not quite as productive as I would have hoped for this time of year. We may even have to resort back to the warm breakfasts.
Despite the cold, the rain and the wind there are a few garden stalwarts that are putting on a brave face. The Rhubarb is resplendent and will soon find itself in countless recipes, as will the sorrel and what remains of the parsnips and potatoes. As you will see above, the daffodils, once upright and jolly have taken on a more leisurely approach to looking beautiful. Battered by flying tarpaulins and feeling a bit sorry for themselves, if not broken completely, most lean or lounge looking quite apathetic – not dissimilar to those slightly vague looking models seen in fashion magazines.
This temporary hitch is quite welcome given that I’m yet to sow a single seed. Work and other things have dominated my life of late, hence a lack of blogging, tweeting and other forms of web-based procrastination. The last frost is now in sight and with the nights becoming longer I’m sure that this will all change very shortly.
