Spring Joy!

Good morning to all.

Lovely sunny day today and tomorrow looks ok at the moment. Yet more dampness due after but let’s make the most of it. This week has kicked off our spring properly with the first compost delivery of the year and the first bit of potting. Some young plant material has started arriving and the pressure to get the potting done builds. Hopefully we will get a bit of tim e this week to get on top of it although the slowish start to the year makes you wonder if we aren’t being a bit optimistic in creating more stock. We have some stunning looking stuff at the moment, the mild winter has not held anything back and flowers are appearing all over the place, now we just need some footfall in the plant sales areas to get it all moving. I should think the primrose producers are very anxious with some fab looking stock with no home to go to and again loads of flowers bursting forth. Although it was a horrible spring last year the cold did at least hold some of the stock back a bit until things improved, this year things are looking much more advanced. There are even signs of the Aquilegia’s showing the odd flower shoot, in the last week of February. One consolation this year is that we have planned a really long schedule of colourful sales, spreading our risk a bit with a more ‘little and often’ approach.

I need to press on, I am on animal duty tonight as Caroline has gone to see much of the England team play tonight for Southampton against Liverpool. I have a long list of feeding demands for the various cats, chickens and donkeys although no instructions, I notice for my dinner. 

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

Growth is flushing nicely on many lines with inspirational flower and bud appearing on some. Now’s the time to tuck in!
This seasons Euphorbia’s are looking fantastic, especially the purpurea and martini.
The Erysimums are already budding up and showing colour on the Red Jep and Apricot Twist. The Bowles Mauve is not far behind either.
Pulmonaria EB Anderson with its dark blue flowers and the delightful pale blue of Opal are both showing nicely .
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.
The Pulsatilla rubra is budding well and showing good colour with the purple vulgaris not far behind.
The green form of Brunnera is producing its first spring buds and a little colour with the variegated form looking smart but perhaps a week behind on the flowering timing.
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 blue Anemone blanda have just started opening their first of many flowers and the white will be there in about a week I suspect.

Spring again
Frogs still hanging about in the pond although less frantic now. Managed to take a snap of them at distance with max zoom and old man’s shaky hands.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ho5ooe4d0o9qp2s/Spawning%202014%205.JPG

Cheers
Have a good one from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries