Hairy Easter

Happy Easter to all.

Last week went swimmingly despite some traffic issues and nearly all the orders made it out before Friday. Just one hiccup where one didn’t appear at this end, not my fault this time, clerical/driver error at source! We were even organised enough to send out a few really late ones although we were scuppered getting one onto a ferry in time, just a few hours too late in getting the order. A few extra hands and an extra emergency van coped well with the short week leaving us free to catch up on a bit of tidying up, pricking out and potting and Friday and Saturday which was great. Just me today, as Caroline knocks up a nut roast to take down the road where the rest of us will get stuck into roast with legs on. I can taste it already. Just hoping Caroline remembers to put the nuts in this time, there is just so much going on at this time of year and there is only so much room in the shrinking brain at our age. Can you tell she doesn’t read this?

I saw on the telly this morning that the HTA are pushing for a relaxation of Garden Centre opening times on Easter Sunday. It always used to be a mega weekend before the restrictions came in and although Easter is a special time for many it would be nice to see a bit more flexibility in the system and a return to pampering to the excitement of the spring gardener. Gardening is such a positive hobby it would be great to encourage it more as a natural, earthy and healthy holiday activity. We got a surprise parcel this week from the HTA, with a pack of promotional giveaways for the National Plant Show which is on June 24th and 25th this year. This will be the first time we are going to show there so excitement is building as this will be our first show since the demise of Woking and GAN a few years ago. We are looking to get our more sustainable ways and plant sales message across to a wider audience and although we want to keep to a fairly local catchment area this national event is reall y our best trade show option. Come and see us there, we might be desperately looking for someone to talk to! The arrival of the promotional stuff brought home to me how far we have to go in our industry. The organisers have obviously gone to a lot of trouble to put over a stylish and modern image which is great and I love the logo bits, but surely in these days sustainability should be at the heart of our planning for the future. I have bundles of plastic logoed pens and packs of apparently non - recycled notepads and cards, come on boys and girls, sustainability isn’t a hobby it’s a theme that has to run through everything we do, otherwise nothing will change. We are in a naturally green industry we should be at the forefront of influencing the way people treat their world.

Availability

Allium varieties are really strong and chunky, perfect for planting out and buds just appearing, be quick they don’t look this good for very long.
The trendy Camassias are beginning to produce strong flower shoots and colour, just beautiful in the garden.
The ever favourite and long flowering Erysimum Bowles Mauve still looks absolutely fantastic, bushy and budding strongly, first colour showing. Even better than last year’s stunners but not many left now.
Flower stems and buds on the Aquilegia Barlow range now. The super dark Barlow Black is always a favourite and the deep blue of Blue Barlow looks strong.
Veronica gentianoides has loads of flower shoots appearing, about to display their delightful pale blue flowers. Almost impossible to photograph as the flowers always look white in the picture, missing out on the subtle beauty of the real thing. Delphs are always a pain to grow, shooting up so quickly when the mood takes them. We have a fresh batch of short bushy stock as well as a few taller ones showing bud & colour. Those in colour are restricted in range and number so please express your desires on your order (just letting me know if you want ‘taller colour’ or short and bushy will be fine, and we will sort it) Lots Geraniums are showing bud and first colour, with Gravetye carrying plenty of bud and brilliant blue flowers just opening. The ever popular Geum’s are producing flower shoots. No colour yet but it won’t be long.
Campanula glomerata varieties are showing plenty of bud and some early colour.
The first of the Salvias are throwing up their first flower stems and buds, with the promise of lots more to come.
Brunnera varigata are producing their spring buds and vibrant blue flowers, looking perky, just a few left.
New Tradescantia Blue and Gold showing bud and flower, but restricted numbers available.
White Armeria maritima have plenty of buds and the odd dab of colour, always a popular neat pot full.
Verbascums are getting started on flower stem production, full of vigour.
Both Pyrethrum (Red; roseum(pink) is close to colour with nice fat buds shooting up.
Ajuga Burgundy Glow are producing lots of flower shoots, looking good but very few left. Lots of pink and white colour on the delightful Dicentra spectabilis.

Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries