We’ve been pottering about in the garden almost daily, peeking at the seeds to see if any have sprouted and keeping a check on the water levels.  We’ve even had our first bbq, although we had to eat off a rickety old pasting table as we’ve not got a garden table at the moment.  The above picture shows the progress I’ve made since Christmas on the front garden bed, the new trellace adds some much needed height and I must admit I’m pretty pleased with it.

The most exciting thing this week has been the sprouting seedlings. I planted aubergine, celeriac and pepper seeds several weeks ago and plonked them in the kitchen only for them to sit dormant for what seemed like forever.  I also sprinkled some mixed lettuce leaves in the greenhouse and those have come on leaps and bounds the last few days.  I was so excited to see the first pepper, it took me by surprise.  I’m sure I’ll feel just the same every year.  Isn’t it weird how they are all planted on the same day and yet they don’t all germinate together.

I’ve found myself with seeds that I won’t be able to use (no more space), and I don’t want to throw them away so I signed up to the Garden Swap Shop and I’ve already received some black russian tomato seeds as well as some mixed peppers.  Swapping seeds for free is kind of addictive and I’ll be thinking of the swappers kindness as my plants develop.

The garden plans are taking shape, I admit I’ve been out spending at the garden center again, I’ve been umming and ahing about whether to buy cheap soft fruit bushes, but decided to buy some more expensive ones in the hope they’ll produce fruit this year.  Strangely there were no raspberry bushes so I went for a healthy looking loganberry instead.  There’s also 2 varieties of strawberry, a new rose (Malvern Hills) and an apple tree from Lidl.

And when I’m not admiring all the bulbs that are beginning to show signs of life I have planted my potatoes.  First my Home Guard 1st earlys and then I gave into the temptation of the Maris Piper main crop.  I had so many I’ve planted some straight into the bed and then put some into a grow bag.  We shall see what happens!  The beds themselves still look rather dead, in that there are no signs of life yet to emerge on the surface of the soil. I’m hoping to plant out the mixed leaves when they grow a bit bigger.

Aside from that, the bulbs continue to show promise but other than the mass of daffodils, the tulips keep themselves tightly shut and others spring up, their foliage unknown to me.  (Oh how exciting, I’ve had a good google and my lilies are coming up in the purple pot.)

Is it just me that takes a nosy at my neighbours front gardens.  Here it seems everyone is a gardener and it will take time to have the layers of plants that others have.  This morning as I walked to play group I took great pleasure in admiring a front garden lush with grape hyacinths, their foliage so glossy and   green with those dainty purple flowers on top.  It had that beautiful wild and unkempt look that I think is probably like that ‘no makeup’ look that takes forever.  I keep telling myself that the good thing about gardening is that its something that’s never finished, the beauty of it is its cycles and changes.  Here’s to Spring!

As usual I’m joining in with Mammasaurus and How Does Your Garden Grow.  I didn’t get a chance to join in last week but I really loved the spring feeling over at Weald.  And this post I found this week reminded me of my own garden journey.