Good morning to all.

So this is what spring used to be like. What a lovely surprise, the gardens are looking great now the sun has come out, colour abounds and the birds are singing. Let’s hope this keeps up and plant sales take off.
We will be bringing round a few spares trays of the extra super looking stock as space allows, just in case we can tempt you into a few extra sales, we wouldn’t want you to miss out on some of the fantastic stock currently available.
Naturally it was a busy week after that great weekend and promise of a very pleasant week to follow. Not only were the sales strong but potting continued at pace and the lab is absolutely flat out. Monday morning is always a hectic time as the weeks plans start to take shape, so the printer throwing a wobbly wasn’t the best start. A bonkers problem where just the black text got shuffled in parts to the left. Replaced the expired transfer belt, cured it for 20 pages, changed two expired drums, cured it for another 20 pages then finally ordered and changed a third drum (only 40% used) and that sorted it, touch wood. Meanwhile I had to reprogram the nursery software (‘Kirton Farm Nursery Loads of Stuff’ program) to go to another printer which was fun. I’m getting too old for all this excitement.
Luckily the birthday excitement was kept in check despite receiving my longed for litter picking grabber. Talking of sad hobbies I must dust off the metal detector while the field is bare and dry enough to walk on. I think the time in nigh for adjusting the dial off ‘all metals’ in an effort to reduce the size of the rusty nail, staple and barbed wire collection. I saw a fantastic collection of coins and a bronze age axe head this week which gives me hope of finding something a bit more exciting.
Thursday saw our review of bio-controls and the introduction of more predators to the mix. Added to the mix this year are a wider range of nematodes to help control levels of slugs, leatherjackets, vine weevil and sclarid fly. Then there is a new wasp introduction which lays its eggs in moth eggs to reduce caterpillar damage and a wider range of predators against a wider range of aphids. We have saved a bit by taking out the lacewing introductions as we seem to have a lot overwintering on site already and hopefully our chemical use will fall even further. It’s all go.

Availability

Loads of fabulous stock looking very saleable in this great spring weather. 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

Inspirational flower and bud appearing on many lines as well as healthy spring foliage bursting forth elsewhere.
Polemonium Heaven Scent are coming into their own with a delightful bushy show of bronzy green foliage and the very first signs of the early flower shoots beginning to appear. A spring stunner.
Our new deciduous Bergenia Dumbo has just burst forth with its pretty pale flowers and first early leaves.
Bergenia Evening Glow is great at the moment, a classic spring flowerer and very neat while Sunningdale has big chunky buds.
Very showy and looking fab at the moment are both varieties of Anemone blanda which are opening their first flowers. Our new dwarf spring daffs are up, budding and chunky, although I only have a few. The Tenby Daffodil (obvallaris) are showing colour on short strong stems and multi-headed Quail have lots of buds, ready to burst.
The ever favourite and long flowering Erysimum Bowles Mauve looks absolutely fantastic, bushy and budding strongly, first colour just beginning to show.
The first flower stems of the Aquilegia Winky range are shooting up carrying numerous flower buds. Strong and good looking. This seasons Euphorbia’s are looking fantastic, especially the purpurea (not many left) and martini.
Pulmonaria EB Anderson with its dark blue flowers and the delightful pale blue of Opal are both looking colourful. Pulsatilla rubra is budding well and showing good colour with the purple vulgaris and Alba not far behind.
The Helleborus niger have plenty of flower and bud still coming.
Both Brunnera vatrieties are producing their first spring buds and blue flowers.
Digitalis and Lupin ranges are all looking particularly fresh and vigorous all raring to go.
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. Ajuga Chocolate Chips are producing lots of flower shoots, just a week or so from showing full colour.

Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries