CLEANING UP TIME

With the weather settle into the usual pattern for this time of the year anything of an aquatic nature should be quite satisfied, and I am pleased with the job that was done on my storm drains as there is not a drop of water lying in my back garden now. One of the few tasks that could be undertaken and indeed was long overdue was cleaning up the potting shed. Nine hours of hard work and there was actually room to walk around in the shed as well as having easy excess to all the bits and pieces that I didn't have the heart to throw in the bin.

I have now adopted the two year rule, if any item is not used for the duration of two years it goes in the bin.

On Saturday I potted up a couple of tubs with spring flowering bulbs to add an extra bit of colour March and April. I couldn't resist the temptation when I had occasion to visit my favourite garden centre to enquire about a new shredder. Early flowering Narcissus, crocus and tulip were used along with later flowering forms in the same order. Hopefully that will spread the flowering season from late February until early May.

As for the shredder, my old one has almost given up the ghost and a new one will have to be purchased before the spring pruning season starts. I did get fifteen years out of it so I suppose I can't complain.

The cyclamen in the greenhouse are coming along nicely and are obviously enjoying the shelter. All the Coum varieties have lots of flower buds nestling close to the surface of the pots waiting for the signal to sprout up and open their petals. The vast array of colours, shapes, and patterns on the leaves is a treat in itself even without the flowers. I can stand for hours in wonderment at the spectacle of hundreds of plants with no two leaves the same. Even within the same variety it is almost impossible to find a match. I am surprised that more people don't grow these wonderful and fascinating plants.

Spent a whole afternoon after gathering up and labelling the plants that I had put aside for the plant sale at the annual alpine conference, which is coming up this weekend.

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