What are we doing in the garden 2025

Today I have cut off the damaged branches from a young deutzia and an established acer, where my dog has rubbed his head against (in that driving-down demolition sort of way) to scratch the itch from wearing a head-collar. Mumbling not-so-sweet nothings to him as I did so.

The path down the side of the house has been cleared of fallen leaves, dead geranium stems, and last year’s fern fronds, so at least you can see glimpses of the gravel underneath.

Nut feeders have been filled, so I have happy assorted tits, woodpeckers and nuthatches again.

Kitchen compost bin has been emptied into the compost bay.

The annual chilli-sowing has been done. Traditionally in this house, this happens on Valentine’s Day, but I thought I’d run a little earlier this year. Cayenne, habernero, hot wax, red cherry, ember explosion, fish, Amarillo, patio sizzle and Serenade. Who knows what will come up, as the seeds are a little old, but they won’t do anything useful in the seed packets!

 

Or possibly chilly sowing!

 

I’m still waiting for the borders and lawn to dry out so have placed an order today for some border revivers and fillers - 3 hardy geraniums, 3 Verbena bonariensis, a Rudbeckia triloba “Prairie Glow” and a quaking grass, Briza media. There will be space, when I’ve made some .

 

I do hope so. They'll have celandines, speedwell and docks to complete with! The first celandine flowers have just emerged.

 

I promise, you will never be rid of them!

 

Nothing today it's been raining all day and still is.

 

Yesterday I went to the shed, collected two wooden trays, and set my potatoes to chit. Too wet and cod for anything else.

 

It's been wet for days here. Also, I need to work during the day, in order to be able to afford more plants, so I hadn't done anything in what seemed like ages and I was really missing gardening. So, last night before bed, during a pause in the rain, I lightly pruned a crabapple tree (torch in one hand, secateurs in the other). I feel better now that the itch has been scratched slightly

 

Gardening by torchlight in the freezing cold really is dedication.

 

Get yourself a head torch. Mine is a great boon, for checking in the garden after dark, handy when hunting molluscs, nocturnal caterpillars, adding some extra insulation after the late forecast and doing jobs you suddenly realise you forgot in daylight and can't leave until the next day.

 

The first of the home made wine started! Picked loads of primrose flowers (all arrived by themselves over the years) and have them infusing for a couple of days. The best thing with primroses is that when you pick the flowers they then send up new ones and so you can still have the flowers and then have another harvest for the next demijon.
Harvested some leeks. Not enormous but still a good size. Also dug up some moolis which I thought would be wooden by now but just some for lunch and very nice, crunchy and peppery.

 

Oooh! I’ve not made primrose wine. What is it like?

 

Maybe my primrose bumper crop has a use after all!