Spring has sprung and once again I am surprised. I’ve worked in my garden through the autumn and winter and I had got quite used to the dormant state of my plants and the shape they gave to the garden. Now we have had a few warm days and a bit of rain and all of sudden my garden has changed completely. Herbaceous plants have gone from a few tiny shoots to a healthy clump, deciduous plants are now cloaked with fresh spring growth and even evergreen plants are transformed by a flush of new foliage. I know it happens every year, but I had quite forgotten what glorious growth can be forged in a few days in spring.
I think this is my favorite time of year (although I know I’ll say the same thing at three weekly intervals throughout the year). The parks are full of blossoming trees and there seems to be so much promise in the air. Summer may be the season for experiencing the glories of the garden, but deep down there is always a feeling that the peak is just the top of a downward slope to the dark days of winter; spring brings promise of more to come.
The birds are hard at work in the garden too. They are hard to miss at this time of year as they work their demanding schedule of finding food and mates and nest sites, and all the while they keeping up their exhausting serenade (or is it a gladiatorial song?). I have been gardening my plot for two full years now and my allegiance with the birds is now paying off. I have two nests (a robin and a blackbird) and many more visitors to the garden and between them they have a daily clear-out of slugs, snails, caterpillars and other crawlies – and it is very satisfying to see a bird hopping past with a beak-full of caterpillars.
Here at Clifton Nurseries, we are also coming to life. As we approach our busiest weeks we are well stocked with plants, pots products and I am pleased to say we are also well stocked with staff. We have managed to keep most of the employees we had last spring, so we should be running like a well oiled machine this year. Paul Mottershead (our plant buyer) is well ensconced now and he’s finding us some beautiful plants. Our new Herbaceous supplier is sending us some great stock and our new supplier of trees is coming good too. It all bodes well for a great spring and summer.
I think this is my favorite time of year (although I know I’ll say the same thing at three weekly intervals throughout the year). The parks are full of blossoming trees and there seems to be so much promise in the air. Summer may be the season for experiencing the glories of the garden, but deep down there is always a feeling that the peak is just the top of a downward slope to the dark days of winter; spring brings promise of more to come.
The birds are hard at work in the garden too. They are hard to miss at this time of year as they work their demanding schedule of finding food and mates and nest sites, and all the while they keeping up their exhausting serenade (or is it a gladiatorial song?). I have been gardening my plot for two full years now and my allegiance with the birds is now paying off. I have two nests (a robin and a blackbird) and many more visitors to the garden and between them they have a daily clear-out of slugs, snails, caterpillars and other crawlies – and it is very satisfying to see a bird hopping past with a beak-full of caterpillars.
Here at Clifton Nurseries, we are also coming to life. As we approach our busiest weeks we are well stocked with plants, pots products and I am pleased to say we are also well stocked with staff. We have managed to keep most of the employees we had last spring, so we should be running like a well oiled machine this year. Paul Mottershead (our plant buyer) is well ensconced now and he’s finding us some beautiful plants. Our new Herbaceous supplier is sending us some great stock and our new supplier of trees is coming good too. It all bodes well for a great spring and summer.
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