We were intending to go to the allotment at the weekend but the weather conspired against us yet again. At the beginning of the week, we managed to build a new fence for my sister and we have a bootload of wood from the old fence to transport to the allotment where Martyn intends to use it to repair the composting area.
The weather didn’t stop us from popping to the local garden centre where we bought most of our seed potatoes, onion and shallot sets and garlic.
We decided to tidy up the flower bed at the front of the house. We usually leave the dead perennial stems until we notice the bulbs popping up so it was time. The lavender border needed cutting back in the hope that it will produce fresh bushy growth in spring. The roses were also cut back.
Around the garden, there are some welcome splashes of colour. Hellebores are beginning to flower and the winter jasmine is hanging on to its yellow flowers. Snowdrops are beginning to open both in the garden and at Nostell.
The flowers of the sarcococca growing in a pot on the patio could be overlooked if it wasn’t for the intense perfume that they produce.
The garrya is swathed in tassels.
No swans were in evidence at Nostell last week, but the mallards seem to sense that spring is, hopefully, just around the corner as they have started to pair up with males being very protective of their chosen mate.
The ground staff look as though they have been making good use of the felled trees as the path alongside the lake has been given a fresh layer of chippings.
As we walked through the woodland bulbs were pushing through the leaf litter. We think some were bluebells but it is too early to tell for sure.
Clumps of snowdrops are flowering and we spotted a lone clump of daffodils in bud.
As usual, Ruby was eager to have a game chasing her ball. The photos are not very good as she goes like a little bullet which my phone didn’t deal with too well but you get the idea. These photos are not good enough to enlarge.
Last week’s meals included some bean burgers that used our carrots, parsnip, onion and garlic. I forgot to take a photo until after I had started to eat.
One of our red onions, carrot, parsnip and garlic were used in a turkey tagine. The recipe called for three parsnips – I used about a third of one of ours and froze the rest.
Some of our potatoes topped a chicken hotpot. I also used one of our onions. I can’t add a link but other ingredients were mushrooms, herbs, sparkling apple juice and stock.
Finally, our washing machine decided to pack in last week. I’d just finished a load of washing and was unloading the machine when I detected a burning smell. We know that the machine was on its last legs as it made a horrendous noise when spinning. So next week we will need to arrange for a new machine to be fitted, I wonder what will go wrong this time!
As always until next time stay safe and well.
It’s wonderful being able to start sowing isn’t it? Love the photos of Ruby.xxx
Lovely to see the signs of Spring and potato choices arriving!
Love the action shots of your little bullet 😊
The little bullet missed out on Nostell thia week and wasn;t impressed, Belinda. We had sulks.
I wish it was only the weather preventing me getting out into the garden. I suppose it won’t be long now before my lawn man is back.
Interesting observation: I have you on my “reading list” twice, once each for Blogger and WP. Blogger shows up almost instantly, WP about two days later! Strange but true.
That is strange, Debbie
Snowdrops are always a welcome sign here too! I will have to check our daffodils and hellebores to see if they are budding out. Too bad about the washing machine. It does seems like it’s always something going out.
Hopefully new washing machine tomorrow, Dave