I don't know why, but we haven't really been inspired to get this year's gardening underway so far. We have planted shallots and onions, which are now sprouting, and of course in the last weeks of 2022 we sowed our broad beans, but other than that we've not done much.
Over winter, we have been able to enjoy fresh parsley, parsnips, chard, leeks and the stored potatoes (now all gone), but yesterday we had a few spears of feral asparagus which acted as a reminder that if we want to feed ourselves, we need to get ourselves into gear! After all, we do have 53 seed potatoes chitting away, which will need to be planted soon.
The chard will keep going for a while and there is a hint of cauliflower on the six plants that are still also providing ample food for caterpillars. There is also corn salad hiding away among the weeds that have grown back, which I hope to rescue soon.
The state of the rhubarb reminds us that we need to care for the soil, adding organic matter back where we can, while at the same time continuing to fight the good fight against the rampant scrub that wants to reclaim the gardens. These tulips were planted in a vegetable bed only 3 years ago, but are now fighting their way out of a bramble patch.
Those plants that fight on through the weeds and scrub come out stronger - this calendular made it through the winter and is now developing many more flower buds for more blazing orange.
One reason for our lassitude to date is that for once things are a bit delayed in nature. The daffodils would have been finished by now last year and the year before, while the cowslips are just going from strength to strength. But blossom is late - the countryside is white with wild plum and blackthorn much later than normal, while the pear may not be in full bloom for Easter, as it usually would be (irrespective of date, as Easter is determined by moon phases). There is a slow green veil taking over but that has been apparent in late March for the last few years, not early April.
The birds are out in force, but there were few insects around, despite the blossom and the highly pungent laurel flowers. The hornet trap is set at The Shack but not at home, but there is no sign of any interest in it so far. There are a few heavy bumblebees around, but without insects, there will not be much fruit, so I hope they appear soon.
The extremely clear sign of a late spring was at the One Acre Wood however. For the past few years, by the start of April, the lily of the valley would be perhaps an inch or two tall and showing whether there would be any flowers to come. We walked through the spot today, and could see nothing. Absolutely nothing. They will sprout in due course, but they confirm we are right not to be plunging into too much gardening activity before Nature is ready to give us a helping hand.
Many the Easter Bunny bring you more chocolate than you can eat in one sitting!
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