The first strim of spring
Just a half day of work but I packed in a lot: I found more sunflowers to sow, plus the pumpkin seeds which I kept over from last year’s mighty crop. And Bernard arrived at eight to see where he could put the last of the little shelves for our new kitchen pantry. He also changed over the blade of the strimmer, so naturally I had to give it a test run. It started second go and roared into life.
I worked my way down the main road cutting a swathe along the banks that line the road. I don’t think we are going to prune it utterly like last year. There are so many exquisite little wild flowers in the bank. And the cow parsleys are up and I love them for the vase in the living room. Well, I love them until they do their job and shed their seeds all over the house.
With a bit of time left I had a go at the first terrace too. I don’t remember there being that many nettles in the middle of the path last year. Perhaps because I managed to mow quite closely they never had a chance. I strimmed the worse of the tops off, but must get to and tidy up next visit. Flowering stinging nettles are the last thing we need.
I collected kale and more purple sprouting broccoli from the potager, plus lots of herbs. The sage is up and not looking as scruffy as a month ago. But I think I have lost the largest of the artichokes next to the euphorbias.
The action of the garden: vegetables are looking rather good right now. It’s that dormant time before the deer discover the juiciest of my plants and the weeds aren’t overwhelming. The weedproof fabric is all down and the most of the crops are in – just the brassica quadrant to go. Plus the beetroot and the flowers I want to put in between the rows.
The brassica plants are all coming along nicely in the cold frame. And with a promise from Bernard to water in there every two days while I am away means they may even be able to go out at the end of the month. Plants don’t get much time to harden off I fear. I always say that as the potting shed / cold frame is so gusty with all its cracks and gaps that they get a tough start in life anyway.
I really wanted to get out the mower and have a go at more grass. But that was just inviting disaster for a late train. No, being good, I downed tools, cleared the house, donated my lovely tulips to a neighbour and drove to the train via the boulangerie at Vernoux.
On the train I am studying Sarah Raven’s Cutting Garden book for inspiration. And working hard at trying to drown out the noise of the Game Boy Express. Easter holidays, Euros Disney meltdowns and a late arriving train. Lille was a positive zoo. But I floated zen-like along the crowds of ankle biters and end of tether parents thinking of my lovely cosmos seedlings and what the future flower garden will look like.