After a long spell of inactivity things are starting to move again in the garden. Snowdrops are already in bloom as are some the crocus species and a few of the early narcissus are already showing flower buds. While the weather has been exceptionally mild the forecast for the coming week is promising more in way of wintry weather.
With the promise of some frost I could not miss the opportunity to finish the seed sowing and put the trays out to sample the weather, in the hope that a cold spell might prompt some of the more stubborn seeds to germinate. It turned out to be a bigger job than I had expected, because with over one hundred packets of seed I had to devote a whole day to the project. It is surprising how time flies when you are really interested in what you are doing, with mixing compost and writing labels and making sure the correct seed and label finish up in the same pot. You might not believe it but it is quite easy to make a mistake and sow two lots of seed in the same pot, I have done it in the past when I lost concentration, but the seedlings are usually quite easily identified after germination provided you put both labels into the pot.
The few pots of tender seed, mostly from South African and South America were placed under the bench in the alpine house and should germinate quite happily there.
Cyclamen Coum are still filling the alpine house with colour and have now been joined with Cyclamen Persicum in various shades. One in particular has lovely long flowers with twisted petals that are a deep shade of pink. I must try and save any seed it manages to set because I would like a few more of them.
The Primulas in the alpine house (mostly my own hybrids) usually start to flower about twelve days after the time changes, and this year has been no exception. One in particular with nice clear pink petals and missing the usual white eye, is a joy to behold. The Primulas have been neglected for the past year with all the work concentrated on breeding Lewisias, but I have promised myself that they will get the attention due to them this year. Isn't it funny how we gardeners take a fad to a particular species for a year or two and then change to something else just as quickly? I hope it is not getting a bit like the fashion world where styles come and go in the blink of an eye.
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