Or, 8.30am to 5.00pm to be precise. Well, the weather was fine again, wet due to the overnight rain, but mild, so I decided to crack on with more of the jobs that needed tackling.
I had a few plants in pots and throughout the garden that were in desperate need of dividing. The hosta above was just starting to send up shoots, so it was the perfect time to give it a good chop in half.
In fact, I got 3 good bits from this, a couple of which I've placed near the wildlife ponds and a further piece has been potted up. I also divided a rather large poppy and a rudbeckia. Don't you love a plant for free :-)
Next, I placed the obelisks that I'd been painting last week. I'm really looking forward to seeing these clothed in sweet peas and morning glory.
I had lots of plants overwintering in the coldframe, and it was time for them to move on and make room for the seedlings that will need hardening off in the next few weeks. I didn't realise quite how many cuttings I'd taken of veronica and geraniums (definitely got carried away!) and then all the aquilegias that I'd potted on. Still, you can never have enough plants, so I found room for them all somewhere.
Then I made my first set of outdoor sowings for the year.
- Rocket (Sky Rocket)
- Leaf Salad (Cut & Come Again)
- Swiss Chard (Bright Lights)
- Dill
- Garlic Chives
- Radishes (Jolly)
- Night Scented Stock
- Marguerite (May Empress)
- Cornflowers
And a few more trays that have gone indoors until things really warm up.
- Oenothera (Lemon Sunset)
- Coreopsis (Presto)
- Foxglove (Candy Mountain...so excited to see this one develop!)
- Canterbury Bells (Mixed)
All the outdoor sowings are protected by cloches, mainly to stop my cats and the foxes and squirrels digging everything up, but also as a safeguard against any chilly nights.
Not a bad days work, and the garden's looking very springlike now. Lots more to do, but my back needs a good overnight rest!
