Hairy chaos

Morning all,

Still not the best of spring weather really, but sales are ramping up none the less and the plants definitely think it's springtime. Easter approaches rapidly and the season of bank holidays is nearly upon us. A lovely time for all those able to take a break, but a tense and exciting time for all coping with the garden trade as demand peaks and time seems to evaporate. Christmas and New Year are good ones for us, not too much to do and we can put our feet up to a degree, but springtime breaks just cause so much upheaval at such a busy time anyway. At least we are busy which is better than some, just hoping we don't end up being busy fools!

We are certainly going to be busy over the next few weeks. Not only are sales taking off at last but there was a mass influx of lovely young plants this week, delivered from various suppliers. I thought I had loads of space in the module tunnel but suddenly it's bursting with plants wanting to get potted and we are now struggling to find time to get to them. Mind you it didn't help that a combination of illnesses, emergencies and appointments meant that we were up to 7 people down for most of the week which hurts when you only have 24 to start with! Hey ho, you can only do what yo u can do, no point it letting it get you down, at least there was nothing too serious wrong with anyone.

Work on the water recycling installation has continued this week despite the variable weather, a lot of the drains are recovered and the sump rings are in, topped, plumbed into the drains, and buried. Encouragingly the sumps have already filled with just an afternoons rain, but will need emptying again before the submersible pump can be properly installed next week. It's been chaos in the main yard over the last couple of days with a cable trench having to be taken out right across the middle, severely restricting all the usual ins and outs. It was all going to be so simple, a quick cutting of the concrete and digging out, followed by a rapid fill. Unfortunately being a very old farmyard there turned out to be more than one layer of concrete and it was all very hard so the cutting took a lot longer than expected.

Then the digging up of the trench spread a load of cracks elsewhere, as one layer separated from another, and to top it off the digger burst a hydraulic ram seal and delayed things even further. Now the dumper truck has lost its gear oil or some of it, so that is now out of action too. It's a relief to know these weren't my problems to sort out, although the open trenches today did cause a lot of hassle and juggling of vehicles and routes around the nursery. I'm hoping this will all be a distant memory by Monday as the installation team are coming in over the weekend to finish off a lot of the work and get the yard at least partially operational. What fun.

Party time on Saturday. Sadly we are running our first potting overtime session on Saturday morning so I will miss the lunch, but jelly and ice cream should be on the menu for tea, as a whole host of grown ups celebrate great nephew Oliver's first birthday. It's home time at 5.00, hope there is a goody bag, it is the done thing I believe, although it has been a long time since I was invited to such an event. I am taking my own PX to slosh on the ice cream, just to add a bit of panache to the event. I'm nearly through my third bottle since Christmas and still the pounds from Christmas refuse to budge, I can't understand it.

Availability list highlights

Cooler weather is still holding some crops back so not a lot of colour around, and those showing colour are selling through fast. Polemonium Heaven Scent is a stunner and looking great just at the moment. Finely cut bronzed green foliage is really smart and the pale blue flowers are now beginning to colour up. Grown in our own micro-prop lab it's not one you see everywhere.

Nice batches of Pulsatilla in red and purple forms, emerging quickly and in bud. Not a huge number, they won't hang around. Brunnera macrophylla now bursting through and instantly showing buds. Ajuga Chocolate Chips has plenty of early bud . Dicentra spectabilis are just pushing through and also showing early bud, Muscari latifolium now in bud, as are the last few Ipheion's Alberto Castillo (known locally as Albert & Costello).

Anemone blanda White Splendour is now also now showing flower. Very popular Fritillaria meleagris (Snakes Head Lily) are now just pushing though and flower buds appearing. Erythronium Pagoda is up, and again is another that comes straight into flower. Not many in stock, so don't wait too long. Camassia Sacajawea has smart variegated foliage so looks good even without the flower.

Spring flowering Symphytum are in bud now, don't hang about there aren't many left. Phlox paniculata has started to shoot strongly. Again another overwintered crop in a range of colours. The first Salvia to flower is now in bud, May Night. I know it's still only March, but it isn't quite in colour yet. 

Best wishes  from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries