Preparing for Spring ...

I have been outside in the garden all day! It started off dry, mild and no wind - the sun even tried to come out but failed. This morning I cut back another buddleia and the lovely Bay tree given to me by my dear friend MrsToad. Then I had another half hour of flattening the soil mountain left after the garden makeover. Back to the secateurs and I cut back a sickly grapevine, some straggly clematis and last year's raspberry canes. The canes were dry and have been cut up for use as kindling.

It started raining around midday and we had a heavy shower around one o'clock. I decided to sow a few seeds for early crops. I have a mini greenhouse inside my greenhouse which has a plastic cover and has proved ideal in the past for starting off and protecting early seedlings.

I collected my own seed last year and have sown: garlic chives, calendula, rocket and bronze fennel.
Seeds from the Cottage Garden Seed Exchange: chard, good king Henry, shallots, Italian wild rocket, welsh onion
Shop bought seeds: ciboule (red skinned welsh onion), white Lisbon onions, Brussels sprouts, greyhound cabbage, spinach beet, Musselburgh leeks, field beans, trailing lobelia.

I have just lit the fire and am having a cuppa whilst I wait for MrD to come home from work.

Have a lovely evening everyone, Friday tomorrow x