A grey but quieter week on the weather front was a relief after the wind and rain and the forecast for the following week doesn't look to shabby. Spring madness here we come!
It was an exciting week which got off to a shaky start with the small van going in for a gearbox repair, due to take all week. Luckily it was covered under warrantee but it did mean organising a hire replacement which always seems to be a bit of a lottery. We banked on the safe side by getting the same one we had in the summer which, although it didn't carry much due to a limited payload, had proved to be reliable. Naturally, the second day out it went into 'limp mode' with all lights flashing a long way from home. Having experienced something similar last year the old IT solution of switching it off and on again cleared it.
It did repeat the performance later in the day but then was fine the rest of the week. The hire company were very apologetic admitting that all 3 vans of the same model that they used, had similar episodes in the past but they never really got to the bottom of it. Not a confidence boosting scenario. Now we are wondering if we would be better off getting another van of our own to get the payload and efficiency up, as well as the confidence. We will have to think on that and wait a few weeks before any funds roll in to support the idea.
We had lots of visitors to the nursery this week, a few to buy plants, some on a nursery tour and another old friend dropping by. I'm hoping we made a good impression overall despite the early season pressures, although some of the conversations did seem to involve a lot of reminiscing over times gone by. Took advantage of my first concession last week, £1.50 off my cinema ticket, so there are some advantages of great age.
Availability highlights
Both Dicentra spectabalis forms are now up and showing bud. Surprisingly tough for such a fleshy exotic looking plant. We have a few of the delightful and compact, white Bergenia Diamond Drops left, the buds are now showing and the odd flash of colour in evidence. You'll need to be quick to catch a few of these.
Our Brunnera have emerged looking strong. The pretty blue 'forget-me-not' flowers are appearing now. Both the green form and the stunning variegated batch are looking smart. Our wild primrose (Primula vulgaris) are also bursting into flower, spring is springing. Not many left.
Primula denticulata looking good, with big fat buds bursting through the compost surface and colour now in evidence. The pretty candelabra Primula (japonica) Millers Crimson have buds shooting through and plenty of verdant leaf growth. Spring flowering Pulmonarias are all showing lots of bud now with most now showing pretty opening flowers.
The ever popular Erysimums are looking fresh and strong as we approach the spring. I have marked all varieties with bud and colour is close for many, there is the odd open flower on several now, looking very smart. The bright ray of sunshine that is Doronicum Little Leo is throwing up as we speak. Fat little flower buds are bursting through and the odd bright yellow petal unfurling. Masses of bud on our Ajuga Chocolate Chips, looking full of spring vim and vigour. Burgundy Glow is close behind.
We have some lovely spring flowering bulbs showing signs of good growth and even the odd bud on a few. Lots more to follow. Pushkinia are up this week and showing bud and some pretty colour as are the Anemone blanda White Splendour. Super blue Scilla looking great but not many left, Chionodoxa in colour too, a more subtle blue but none the less pretty. The Iphieons are showing the occasional bud, it spreads nicely making a good groundcover and it flowers here repeatedly
through the spring and summer.
Muscari varieties are looking really strong with plenty of young buds showing. The latifolium blue is deep and intense. The ever popular Snakes Head Lily (Fritillaria meleagris) have their first buds. Their drooping heads are a joy in the garden. We do have a few white ones this week, but not many.
Aquilegia Spring Magic are mostly now in bud. This strain is an early one, looking good and selling fast.
The deep violet spring flowering and super scented Viola labradorica are flushing up well after their winter haircut. Plenty of flower bud to come and a strong colour already showing. Euphorbia martinii are looking great with short strong arching stems producing their early spring display. The crop/potting timing and the winter weather seem to have combined perfectly this year to produce a great crop. E. robbiae and E. purpurea are following close behind.
The Pulsatilla are here, they are just bursting through and the almost the first growth to emerge are the spring flower buds. I've not got huge numbers yet but if the weather doesn't get too harsh they are going to romp away. Stonking chunky Lupins on the list this week, having been cut back over winter they are now leaping into strong growth. Most of the Dianthus Scent First varieties are carrying flower bud already, a neat habit and full of promise.
Have a great week from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.
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