February has started and thoughts move in the direction of what we’ll be creating in our gardens. Planning new projects, and welcoming new growth is the order of the day.   Already there is lots happening out there, even while most of our garden is fairly water logged, and it requires a good pair of wellintons to navigate towards the elderberry bush and the back gate.  Even then, it is great to see new growth and even the odd wild flower, or the beautiful colours of the croccusses. 

Daffodils,  and a young self-seeded mullein plant.

And an atmospheric view of an early spring sunset.  According to some folks, spring starts on the first of February here in Ireland,  but I’m never sure. I can see things happening though, which definitely point to an awakening in nature, so if not on the first of February,  then spring cannot be far off and the evenings are getting brighter too. 

Every year I purchase a few more bulbs, the last few years it has been a variety of old fashioned gladioli, I love them. But because of the heavy soil and the heavy winter rains I have to dig the bulbs up and store them. I grow lilies in containers for similar reasons, as well as alliums and agapanthus.  By now I’ve got a tidy collection of containers plants.

Tulips,  grape hyacints, croccusses, and many other bulbs also seem to grow best in containers here.

Seeds are germinating inside, this year I’m trying out asters.  I picked an aster resembling a spider chrysanthemum, the flowers look lovely on the packet.  we will see.

A glimpse into our putting shed, not quite sorted or decluttered.  I was looking at a new wheel barrow recently  but they cost around €150! I thing the old rusty one will get of a clean up instead.

All things to enjoy or look forward to.