Good morning to all,

Ok I am going to try this opener again with some hope that this time I will be right, as last Sunday did get a bit damp. Lovely sunny day today and tomorrow looks ok at the moment. In fact the whole of the next week looks decidedly spring like. Looking forward to getting the sales volumes to match up with the fantastic yummy growth we are seeing on lots of the stock. We have started double spacing a few of the more vigorous lines already to make sure we keep a good plant shape and the buds are definitely appearing and bursting forth. It has caught me out slightly at the relief I’m feeling at seeing the sun out and hearing the skylarks singing, it’s been a long dark winter but perhaps now we can see a chink of light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s hope that that in the name of economy or sustainability someone doesn’t switch it off.

Feeling my years this week with another birthday imminent and visits to the nursery from two groups, one of students from the local horticultural college and another from a local school. There’s nothing quite as aging as chatting about the ‘recent history’ of the nursery only to realise that some of the audience hadn’t even been born at that point! Luckily no one fell asleep or ran off so I count that as a success and another brownie point notched up.

A weekend of celebrations to come, a trip to Southampton to see The Beat, another thing probably lost on all those under 45, but a great band none the less (loads of hits; Mirror in the Bathroom, Best Friend, Tears of a Clown, Hands off She’s Mine, Too Nice to Talk To, among others). Then it’s birthday tea with nephew Tom and lot’s of the family on Sunday with jelly and ice cream etc, all very exciting. Hoping to get lucky on the present front, I put in a request a while ago for a litter picking grabber so here’s hoping for all my dreams to come true! They were certainly right when they said life starts at 55.

If you would like to see a quick preview of the new 2014 catalogue try the following link which takes you to a downloadable version or visit our website which has the updated version;
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gm72fckfp2f2wbm/herbaceous%26herb%20catalogue%202014%20Oct%2013%20full%20DL%20no%20pr.pdf

Availability

Great joy this week seeing some stonking stock leaving the nursery, but there’s still plenty to go, so don’t miss out. Follow this link to see a snapshot of some of the colourful stuff that went out this week;
https://www.dropbox.com/s/trfxd7evezgkk5t/Colour%20display%20in%20March.jpg

Growth is flushing nicely on many lines with inspirational flower and bud appearing on many.

This seasons Euphorbia’s are looking fantastic, especially the purpurea (not a lot left) and martini.
The Erysimums are already budding up and showing colour on the varieties Red Jep and Apricot Twist. The ever favourite long flowering Bowles Mauve is very strong and bushy and not far behind either.
Pulmonaria EB Anderson with its dark blue flowers and the delightful pale blue of Opal are both showing well.
The Helleborus niger have plenty of flower and bud and looking superb with the wild primrose, primula denticulata and cowslips showing strong growth and spring colours already. These Primula’s are getting in short supply so be quick.
The Pulsatilla rubra is budding well and showing good colour with the purple vulgaris and Alba not far behind. The Brunneras are producing their first spring buds and a little blue colour.
The Aquilegia, Digitalis and Lupin ranges are all looking particularly fresh and vigorous all raring to go.
Our new dwarf spring daffs are up, budding and chunky, although I only have a few.
The Anemone blanda have just started opening their first of many flowers and looking fab, especially the blue shades which are perhaps a week ahead of the white.
Polemonium Heaven Scent are coming into their own with a delightful show of bronzy green foliage and the very first signs of the early flower shoots beginning to form. A spring stunner.
Bergenia Evening Glow is great at the moment, a classic spring flowerer and very neat.
Armeria maritima is also starting its flower shoot production which is always a popular neat pot full.
The Vinca minors are looking at their peak with neat shoot growth and lots of pretty blue flowers. Spring again

Saw my first bat feeding last evening. Usually see one most of the spring and summer feeding just behind the house (pipistral), but last night at dusk in quite good light conditions there were defiantly two. Not sure if they were the same species as one seemed bigger than the other, but they flit about so quickly it’s difficult to tell.

Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries