Spring is in the air no? The return of Gardener's World is the surest sign of it I think. I do so like the programme now that it's just Monty Don in his lovely garden. Couldn't stand the Top Gear style joshing that it was starting to degenerate into before when Joe Swift was on all the time. I love the peace and calmness that is Monty, trailed by Nigel and Nell, wandering about, clipping things down here, pegging them up there. No ridiculous wittering on, no stupid banter. Just Monty and a dog or two.
The filming is always delicious. Close ups of flowers and raindrops and bees and frogs. It never fails to inspire me. Beth Chatto was on last night, in her divine garden. She made her own tiny lake with a rowing boat on it. Happy sigh.
The boys discovered newts in our little wildlife pond this morning. Honestly, we were all so excited. Build it and they will come. There is so much frogspawn now. Apparently newts eat it, and also the tadpoles when they emerge. Maybe that's why newts have appeared.
I got the box of seeds down yesterday and had a rummage through. Time to start popping things in I think. I got out sweet peas and sunflowers to start with. The tomatoes are already in. I like to get some sugar snaps in quite early, and I've got the radishes out to direct sow. There's rocket ready to eat in the garden already, peppery and delicious. Let the gardening begin.
Hear, hear. It is so good to get out into the garden again and although the soil is still very cold and wet, it's a pleasure to get your hands mucky planting a few things. Beth Chatto was a delight wasn't she, still full of enthusiasm despite being quite frail now. It is my ambition to visit her garden one day.
ReplyDeleteWe always watch Gardner's World when we're in England. Gardening is always so full of surprises. I saw somewhere that it is called the slowest of the fine arts.
ReplyDeleteI am very envious! Minus 11c here. There will be no seed sowing until mid May. Your photos are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLovely images! I may have to start watching Gardener's World again now if it has changed.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week, hope you sew those radishes, they'll be up before you know it!
Your Spring has SPRUNG there! You're way ahead of us. But your talk of seeds inspired me.. I went to Amazon and ordered a packet of sweet pea seeds. I'm going to try again. Our DIL's mother has been invited to put in a vegetable garden here on the farm.. I hope she does. She's quite the gardener. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteA very exciting time...Everything is so fresh and new and your beautiful photos capture that!
ReplyDeleteJane x
You inspired me to watch it on iplayer;glad I did. Wasn't Beth Chatto lovely and amazing at 93. I remember reading a book by Monty about his first large house and garden. It was fraught with problems and in the end he became bankrupt. I think he has led an intriguing life. Happy gardening :) B x
ReplyDeleteI love Gardeners World, it's a breath of fresh air on a dark night.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to my new Almond tree blossom this year. Haven't watched Gardeners World for years but I like Monty Don
ReplyDeleteA nice post and lovely pictures. Happy sowing! Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the return of 'Gardener's World' too and enjoyed Carol's interview with Beth so much I took my copy of 'The Damp Garden' off the shelf and upstairs for bedtime reading. Have you come across the published correspondence between Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd? Absolutely hilarious (they are not afraid to disagree with each other) but with strong threads of knowledge and friendship running through. The newts are swimming here too but no sign of any frogspawn despite seeing frogs mating a few weeks ago, I think it must have been eaten already. I went to help a friend with her one and a half acre garden the other day. We started at opposite ends of a very long border cutting back and weeding and ended sitting by the pond in the sunshine drinking tea and chatting - the best kind of gardening therapy I think.
ReplyDeleteLove all the delicate spring blossom, a gentle sign of things to come. I haven't watched gardeners world for a long time, but I should. I once wrote to Monty Don asking for advice about quince trees suitable for Scotland. He had published an article in the Observer magazine about quince. First thing he said in his reply that he doesn't really give advice but then he did anyway. I followed all the advice diligently but unfortunately, in our small corner of the West of Scotland quince blossom don't stand a chance to develop much further. We have a large pond in our nearby woods, it has been built to attract a particular kind of rare Scottish newt. Every spring we go out there hoping to see one. We never have but we'll be sure to go and check again. Have a great gardening week. x
ReplyDeleteSo exciting isn't it. I've started seed sowing but plenty more to come. Another great Monty fan here. How does he make it look so effortless? No doubt he has a few more helpers than you or I.
ReplyDeleteA lovely collection of photos :)
ReplyDeleteI'm struggling to not feel jealous of the fact you are so far ahead of us. We should be thinking about putting in things like peas and rocket here too, but have had an unusually long and cold winter for our area. It will be a couple weeks until it is safe to plant anything. Lovely pictures, and I'm going to check out Gardener's World (I have an app on my iPad connected to my English friends' TV so can watch programming from the UK).
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking I must make a start in the garden but I never quite manage it... Soon... It must all happen soon!
ReplyDeleteoh, lovely, lovely, lovely. i'm not going to think about the impending snowstorm for at least an hour now. *sigh*
ReplyDeletei wish we had programmes like that here...i might actually watch telly if we did. xoxoxo
Oh, what a pleasant springtime treat your pictures gave me this morning! Our early daffodils have "fainted" due to a late hard frost and are lying withered in the mud. Sadly, the weather forecast is calling for over a foot of snow this week. And all of this after a warm and snowless winter.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, all of it. And so inspiring. I am totally with you on Monty and the dogs and the gentle peacefulness he brings to the screen. A real man of the soil I think. Hooray for your newts! I expect the frogs will manage too. You have given me a nudge to get the seed box out and have a rootle through. Warmer days and all. Oh, and to set GW to record! XX
ReplyDeleteI had a newt inta tank when I was younger. I had to feed it dried shrimp which stunk up my room. Ah well to be little and love newts.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely looks like Spring over there! Beautiful photos. My seed order arrived last week and we planted peas and carrots just because I wanted to. The next day, the cold frames were covered with snow and we're due for another 5-12 inches tomorrow. Not quite yet...
ReplyDeleteAnd for some reason, I can't post my name. (Life With The Crew)
DeleteHi CJ, your photos are gorgeous! It all looks very much like spring over there. We're having a warm stretch of weather right now and things are just starting to bloom. We finished our exterior painting this morning and it's such a relief to have it behind us. I feel like we can just enjoy springtime now. Not that there aren't a million other projects to do, but the big one is over. It feels like the first time you wear shorts after the long winter is over. I have seen the show you discussed but I can imagine why you like it better the more peaceful way. I can just imagine a Top Gear-like show about gardening...yikes.
ReplyDeleteMonty had just the same effect on me CJ. I was out cutting a clematis back today and ended up in the garden all afternoon.....most unexpected. CN x
ReplyDeleteWe've never had newts in our garden pond but find plenty on the allotment.
ReplyDeleteYes! It's that time of year. Lovely to see Gardener's World back :)
ReplyDeleteLovely post and yes I can't think of a better way to start the weekend with Gardeners World ❤ Anita xx
ReplyDeleteLovely post and yes I can't think of a better way to start the weekend with Gardeners World ❤ Anita xx
ReplyDeleteWe love Gardeners' World in this house, too. When I say 'we', I mean me and David of course! And I agree, much nicer with just Monty and the dogs. He has definitely grown on me over the years – I love his deep love of his garden and plants in general. Yes, spring is here. Our pond is busy, too, and my seeds are calling me. Gorgeous photos, as always. S x
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, CJ. Though I kind of wanted to sneeze. The weather has temporarily warmed for us again, but now the breeze is kicking the blooms everywhere. Back to honey and allergy meds for the household.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures and so heartening to see the many signs of nature bouncing back to life. Just need collection of the green bins to restart, then Spring will have definitely arrived.
ReplyDeleteWow you have captured spring so beautifully, I missed Gardeners World thank you for reminding me! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI love watching Monty and the doggies too, can't wait for tonight, I am so glad it is back on. Have you read the book Monty wrote about his dogs, it is a wonderful read. Enjoy the blossoms!
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing Beth Chatto and Carol Klein together on Gardeners' World. I think they might be my two favourite gardeners on the planet. I have visited Beth Chatto's garden for many years. I took one of my children there as a toddler and she spotted her first frog by the pond. How she leapt around with delight! Enjoy sowing your seeds. It's a wonderful time of year!
ReplyDeleteCJ - I love your blog. Your descriptions & pictures make me feel like I am on the walk with you. This year I am going to start a little garden in my back yard & am looking forward to reading about your allotment. Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about GW! I get ridiculously excited when it returns in the spring, and likewise sad when it finishes. I do shout at the tv a lot during it however - sometimes in agreement and sometimes not. Sometimes it is just a smug shout out when I have already finished a job Monty is tackling!
ReplyDeleteI agree, spring is definitely in the air! I started my own gardening this weekend and thought of you. If you ever were to share a beginner tip or two here, I know I'd carefully take notes. We've got tomatoes in, strawberries, cilantro, beets, peppers and pumpkins. We'll since who lasts! With my novice gardening skills, I'm not too optimistic it will be everybody! I watched a little show the other day called Moving to The Countryside (I believe that was close to the title). The episode I watched was about a woman moving to Devon. It was gorgeous! Being my namesake, I'll have to visit sometime!
ReplyDeleteHi Claire! Your post is up on my blog, at https://howtohyggethebritishway.com/2017/03/24/a-weekend-with-claire-from-above-the-river/
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend, I know I will, reading your old posts. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be, but it is lovely to see how far we've come, isn't it?
That black swan is absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing the beautiful pics. Spring is a lovely time of year.
ReplyDeleteI know, it's so lovely isn't it. I spent some time in the garden yesterday and felt so much better for it, like spring was properly starting. Great photos, especially of the black swan. I don't know why but I don't watch Gardener's World. I think I should, something tells me I'd enjoy it. x
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