Call me Punxsutawney Phil
Just like Punxsutawney Phil, I have been waiting for a hint of spring. Unlike him I have not seen much sign of a shadow when I have ventured outside and I have scuttled back indoors because of the rain with little sign that this wet winter will ever end.
It has been months since I last posted; the longest period since I started the blog. I have been considering whether to explain this or not and have written posts that I then deleted. It is probably better that I just keep my mouth shut.
Any kind of meaningful garden work is impossible at the moment. In a surge of misplaced optimism I ordered a load of compost to dig into the soil in various places and as a mulch because I want to make some big changes to some areas of planting. All this will have to wait a bit though.
Mia, however, is delighted at the sight of eight new litter trays! She always has to muscle in when I am taking photos for work.
One quick job that I had to get sorted was to replant the alpine trough. Vine weevil grubs had moved in and made short work of the saxifrages and sempervivums and it caused me grief every time I walked past. So I made it a project for my weekly jobs for Garden News and replanted it.
It is not perfect but at least it does not make me angry or embarrassed now.
Some plants are reliable and always give pleasure. At the back of the house I planted a ‘ring’ of Sarcococca confusa. I raised lots of plants from seed – actually seedlings found under an old plant. It has not been wholly successful because the ground slopes and the lower area lays wet and sarcococcas dislike waterlogged conditions. Otherwise they are easy and thrive in shade. Mine will get more shade when the hazels above them fill out.
Sarcococcas are not visually very exciting, though they are neat and pleasant. But their perfume is amazing and it really does waft across the garden and lift the spirits. The contrast of the small white flowers and lustrous black berries is striking. The resident blackbirds seem to show no interest in the fruits, obviously not wanting to spoil their appetite for my redcurrants later in the season.
The hazels themselves have been casting their pollen onto the air for many weeks and at last the tiny red female flowers are appearing (you might just see one on the photo) so I m hoping for a tasty crop later.
In the raised beds the bulbous iris have been trying to bloom, beset by frost and then wet. ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ has increased really well and theoretically made a fine show. But I see that virus has infected some and the flowers are streaked. But at least they are growing and look pretty so I will accept it for now. Not good practice but I will tolerate it for the moment.
The Biking Gardener 
Welcome back!You’ve been missed!!!
Ditto – great you’re back
Glad you are back , I have missed you,
Thank you – that is very kind. I will eventually get up to speed!
Good to have you writing again even if only to share the pain of present conditions. I must say I walked the garden the other day and it was one of the very very few times that I felt totally despondent about the situation there. Gardening is all but impossible though I did manage a little pruning a few days back. It is generally miserable and can only get better – at least, that’s what I tell myself.
Great article, loving the pictures.
everything is very soggy indeed , but we’re getting more light & that is so good !
hellebore, bulbs, Muscari are all coming on quickly in the Midlands now.
the weeds will be rampant before we know it too
V.