In the herb bed the first of the chives are pushing through. Buds are breaking on the Black Pear of Worcester, and the flowerbuds on the camellia are slowly opening despite morning frosts. The mahonia isn’t far behind.
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sweet peas
The second very grey and chilly day, with a pervasive dampness. I’m struggling to use my hands or walk much.
Nevertheless, I did manage to sow the sweet peas, which are now on the spare room windowsill – some bought seeds (Cupani), and a larger set of saved seeds. That almost clears the backlog of saved toilet-roll and kitchen-roll inner cores.
No: I don’t know why sweet peas are “traditionally” planted in these items! Perhaps it has something to do with encouraging deep root runs. I’m sure that cut-off 2-pint milk containers would probably do, if that’s the reason. Anyway, it’s all good “re-use/re-purpose” and basically Green!
Walk !
The first decent walk I’ve managed this year! That is, a “walk-for-exercise”, as opposed to “walk-to-shop-for-milk” or “walk-to-GP-for jab/scan/whatever”. Down to the canal at Bridge 14, walk along the towpath to Bridge 15, then down past the recycling centre to Bridge 14 again and back up the hill to home. I could probably have managed further, but was worried about managing the hill coming home!
Lesser celandines are out in the marshy area before the bridge, and catkins are opening, though the buds on the horse chestnut have yet to acquire their wonderful late-spring glossy stickiness.
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tomatoes
Today I pricked out the tomatoes sown on 14th February into individual pots. The Black Russian and the Latah have two large pots and two small pots each (ie two to go out in due course, and two backups, of each variety). This year’s experiments of “Bloody Butcher” and “Pink Brandywine” each have two small pots (backup and “to-go-out”), as I’ll only be planting out one of each … they’ll have to share a grow-bag.
They’re all in the spare bedroom by the window – and I’ve turned the heating on a bit for the time being. Also in the photo are some flat-leaved parsley plants, which came in Sunday’s Ocado delivery as their “windowsill growing plants”. As always from Ocado, they’re desperately leggy, grown far too fast and falling over (and I really prefer curly-leaved parsley, anyway), but they’re worth taking a gamble on, as there’s very little self-sown parsley outside this year.
diabetes prevention, diet, etc
A year ago, I started the “diabetes prevention” course. Even more sensible diet, and I’ve certainly lost weight – though winter stews and pudding have put a bit back on! Now there’s the prospect of decent weather, I can walk more easily, so more exercise (and getting out in the garden) are possible. I should go back down again …
Glastonbury thorn
The first tight flowerbuds are appearing above the leaves on the Glastonbury Thorn. It’s a glorious cloudless sky, and the temperature peaked at a balmy 18C.
garden bits
The daffodils in the front bed are now in full glorious flower. In the back garden, there’s a solitary snowdrop in the small clump I split off last year – the main clump will hopefully follow in due course.
Indoors, I’ve planted Broad Beans – “The Sutton”. One per yoghurt-pot, now on the dining table in the unheated front room.
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sowing things
I’m always a bit worried about home-saved seeds, but the tomatoes sown last week had 100% germination.
This week was the turn of cosmos – although I’m sure that I did save seed from last year’s plants, I can’t see any! So I’ve sown from a 3-year-old packet of bought seed … fingers muchly crossed that at least half a dozen germinate! If not, it’s not to late to buy again and re-sow.
Interview
Last week I was asked if (as current Worcester Green Party Chair) I’d be willing to be interviewed, with a view to posting clips as part of WGp’s celebration of LGBT History Month. Of course I said “yes”.
The actual interview was on Thursday. I was a bit nervous – I don’t think I’ve actually been “interviewed” as such since my year as a Student Sabbatical Officer in 1980-81! But it was the first interview that our new Press Officer had carried out, as well. Fortunately, I don’t think either of us came across as quaking in our boots …
This is a rough-edited clip (the whole interview was nearly half an hour), which will be further chopped down into three or four shorts, to paste on social media.
daffs at last!
The first of the daffodils is now open – a clear fortnight later than in most previous years! A very welcome sight.
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