Spring isn't here yet. I just wanted to make that clear. It won't in fact be here until two minutes past eleven on Wednesday 20th March.
If you hadn't guessed, I'm a bit of a pedant about this whole spring business.
Or at least I was.
Now I'm just getting very, very, very bored of winter.
So I'm cheating.
The children and I have decided to hurry spring on. That's why we've cut pussy willow stems, flowering cherry twigs and brought inside tray loads of Iris reticulata in pots.
A bit of kitchen warmth is enough to encourage the iris to come into flower a week or two early, and the same trick (with a sprinkling of sugar in the water to give the plant some food) works on the pussy willow and prunus.
We've even hung the pussy willow stems with eggs for decoration. And yes, I know it's not Easter for another two and a half weeks either, but hey, we're just crazy rule breakers round here now.
Why not try it too? It'll be anarchy - but on a very small, floral, faintly scented level.
You're my kind of anarchist! I'm a working mother of a preschooler and a baby, and a very frustrated gardener! I can't seem to make any progress in the garden, so I'm going to enjoy reading your blog instead, at least until the evenings are lighter and I can get out there unhindered...
Posted by: Helen | March 06, 2013 at 09:22 PM
Thanks Helen - and take heart - it won't be *that* long before you can all garden together. Although I use the term 'garden' loosely.
Posted by: Dawn | March 07, 2013 at 01:40 PM
Very loosely. Forget quiet and relaxing. Think extreme gardening :-) and Vive la revolution!
Posted by: twitter.com/countrygate | March 07, 2013 at 01:53 PM
Dawn, I too am feeling very bored with winter. Planting things like this indoors, in small spaces no less, is an excellent way to look forward to the warmth of Spring. I am currently prepping our square foot garden beds.
Posted by: Joseph Farinaccio | March 16, 2013 at 04:22 PM
It's been one long winter and its still with us despite spring equinox on Wednesday! I'm currently snowed in as Glossop where I live is covered with snow and 3ft to 5 ft drifts ! Spring please spring!!
Posted by: Gareth | March 23, 2013 at 11:20 AM