Sunday 17 February 2013

Signs of Life

It happens every year, Spring comes along when you least expect it. One day your garden is full of snow, or water, whatever the case may be. The next, the birds are singing, children are playing volleyball with a beachball over a badminton net, and you spot the first signs of life.

For me today is was my chives. I was doing something out back and happened to look over at my mini herb garden and there was fresh green growth. I love that feeling I get as plants come back to life. So I peered a little closer and, lo and behold, the oregano was full of life below last year's dead stalks (which have now been removed).


I was surprised to see that even some of the plants in pots that I was so sure this rather wet and cold (for England) winter would see off were also sprouting afresh.


Well, that was it. This person who hates gardening went and did the only thing that I really like to do out there. Pruning. I make a wonderful pruner as I am viciously ruthless. In no time at all I had the wheelie bin full, and I was almost tempted to 'borrow' the neighbours bin too and fill that up with even more.


It was a gloriously warm and sunny day. It happens every year, and every year I get filled with hope that this will be the year we actually have a proper summer. Please let 2013 be the summer that the sun shines, the rain abates and barbecue gets used nightly.

Susan

29 comments:

  1. May your wish come true!
    I am envious of your herbs - ours are still buried under 3 feet of snow!

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  2. I was sat on the back doorstep today, soaking up some vitamin D and also noticed that my plants are starting to sprout. However, I just continued to sit: too lazy to do anything else!

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  3. If only! Just dont make it above 20 in London 19th - 22nd July...

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  4. Well done! And I like your wishful thinking ;)

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  5. I am soooo jealous!! The snow is so deep here this year, it is hard to back out or the driveway because you cant see over the snowbanks on the sides!! Cant wait for spring :)
    We are coming over the pond in May...will be spending a week in Glasgow, and a week in London..and a few days in Marrakesh!

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  6. Oh I hope so as this will be my first ever time to visit in summer in the UK. I'm hoping it's like it looked in The Darling Buds Of May ;)

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  7. pruning is the only good bit of gardening, in my opinion!

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  8. We've had our 'best' summer for years here in the Southern Hemisphere, so lets hope that's a sign of things to come for you! I must ask though, what temperature was it that considered 'gloriously warm'? I've noticed the English have a different idea about 'warm' than we Aussies! (Today in Melbourne it's going to be 35C!!)

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  9. I love the signs of spring and the newness of life .. or the rebirth! I need to plant an herb garden -- maybe this year. I'd love to have fresh basil and rosemary.

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  10. I vaguely saw the sun out the window as I slogged away at the sewing machine today, but that was as close as we got...

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  11. I'm jealous of those green things sprouting out of the ground! We're due for another whopping 15cm of snow on Tuesday, hurray.

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  12. I would love to say I hope you are right; but you have probably gone and jinxed they whole f-ing thing!

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  13. Our daffodils are out, but haven't checked anything else. I love pruning - it is my favourite job in the garden - unlike digging out cold heavy and wet clay soil. As for summer and barbeques - wouldn't that be lovely.,very lovely; but I would settle for "mostly dry" after last year.....

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  14. I dislike gardening too - I would much prefer to be sewing:) Love that you have similar wheelie bins to what we have here in Australia!

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  15. You have been busy, and why is it that i'm not surprised going mad with a sharp implement is your favourite bit about gardening!!?!!

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  16. Please please please let this year be the one! am snorting slightly at Hadley's comment ;-)

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  17. Im a ruthless pruner too...and I also hate gardening. We should have married blokes that like to garden!

    While you're praying for your Spring to arrive , Im still hooked on the idea of a little bit of sunshine here .Not ready for autumn yet!

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  18. I got just that feeling yesterday when I spotted little pink bits of rhubarb appearing, that and a wee clump of snowdrops.....

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  19. I love gardening, although I am not that great at it. Pruning is just good for the soul and the plants too, I am glad you can embrase at least that part.

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  20. Worried now that Katy is right!

    Oh well I need a new pair of wellies - maybe I should get waders instead!?

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  21. Hope your pruning wrist doesnt get RSI. . . you dont want to ruin your rotary cutter action and embroidery skills. . . . and be careful what you wish for...in case your summer has you sweltering / swearing!

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  22. Could you please send some of that glorious weather this way :)

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  23. I hope you do get a good summer. I think you deserve it up there. We've had a really warm dry summer down here in South Australia. It was 39C here today! Now, that is foul, too bloody hot. But it's been our first proper summer in years, so I think you should get one too!

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  24. In view of this morning's 'drive by' incident, I hope those secateurs are in a locked cabinet - with you being visciously ruthless and all that ;-)

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  25. I'd be perfectly happy if it never got above 16C this summer...

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  26. I LOVE that phase of spring when the garden comes back to life. I just noticed on our olive tree that there are new flower buds. Yippee!

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  27. I hope you have a wonderful summer, especially a wonderful July 17-22. See you then.

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