Last week was a much drier week and not before time. We even saw a little sunshine.
We are still not firing on all cylinders. I am more or less back to normal but Martyn is still struggling. On a positive note when he saw the consultant last week he was told that things were looking OK with his nose and he doesn’t need another appointment for three months.
We managed our weekly visit to Nostell, but yet again had an abridged version of our usual walk.
After all the rain, the winter lake now covers a fairly extensive area.
The ducks are still sticking to the main lake and seem to be forming into pairs. Strangely last year we never noticed any ducklings.
Although most of our gardening activities last week were confined to the garden, we did pay a visit to the allotment. This was to do a bit of harvesting and to take some kitchen and garden waste to put in the compost bin.
The parsnips were starting to regrow and so we lifted all the remaining roots. Some of these will be frozen before they spoil. We have had a good crop of parsnips this year most of which are ‘proper’ parsnip shaped.
We dug up more leeks too which will be cleaned to remove any allium miner damage. The prepared leeks will then also be frozen. 
We had a wander around the plot. Thankfully, other than some debris from other plots having ended up on ours after the gales, things were much the same as when we left it several weeks ago. The onions and garlic had stood up to the weather and were growing well.
Some of the fruit trees and bushes were in bud and a few self sown primroses were flowering. 
Back in the garden, we managed a few urgent tasks.
I tidied up all the perennial borders and planted the bulbs which were removed from the patio pots last year. Being planted so late, they won’t put on any sort of display but at least they are now in the ground. When the perennials were growing it was difficult to find spots in which to plant them and then the persistent rain meant that the ground was too soggy for planting. Hopefully, some will flower next year.
Some perennials are shooting but it will be a while before I find out how many of the perennials planted last year have survived. Fingers crossed.
Martyn, gave the lawns the first cut of the year.
I cut all the foliage from the ferns growing in a bed next to the summer house. I am looking forward to seeing the new fronds emerging and unfurling.
I also pruned the rose that grows behind the summer house.
I mentioned that, a couple of weeks ago, we had an unwelcome garden visitor when a heron landed in the pond. As temporary protection, a net was thrown over but not only was this unsightly but it had also dipped under the water. On Saturday, we removed the net and replaced it with criss-crossing black cords which will, hopefully, deter any opportunistic herons. The half a dozen frogs trying to find a way into the water will also now be happier.
Spring bulbs are now flowering, although it seems rather later than usual this year. We grow several varieties of miniature daffodils in the garden. I think they are more in scale for our garden and are less untidy when the flowers fade and the foliage flops over.
Our first camellia flower has opened. It looks quite lonely as no other buds seem inclined to open just yet. Maybe it’s a scout sent forward to test the conditions before any other flowers join it.
Hyacinths are just starting to open in the patio tubs. They seem to have been sitting in bud for a while now.
The amaryllis/hippeastrum that I repotted last week is now shooting up in front of our eyes and a second flower bud has emerged. Once they decide to grow the shoots develop at an incredible speed. I can’t remember what colour the flower is so it will be a surprise.
On one day a week, we have a salad for dinner and I usually bake a batch of savoury pastries to serve with the salad. This week I made some mini curried vegetable pasties. I used a mixture of our frozen vegetables, along with some potato, carrot, onion and parsnip. I cooked the vegetables first and added some curry paste and mango chutney before filling the pasties. We ate a couple and I froze the rest.
Anyway, that’s all for this week, Until next time take care and stay safe.
This week I am linking to Harvest Monday on Dave’s Our Happy Acres blogHarvest Monday on Dave’s Our Happy Acres blog where other bloggers show off their harvests each week.
Videos of our work in the garden and visit to the allotment will be posted here. If they haven’t yet appeared pop back later.
I do hope Martyn recovers completely soon. Goodness, Nostrell is looking somewhat flooded. Spring is springing for sure in your garden. Those pasties look delicious!xxx
I love that you have called it Nostrell as we call it that. It’s banned now after, Martyn’s nose op!
Oh glad to read that you are both making progress in the right direction health wise Sue. Your garden has some lovely splashes of early colour. I prefer the little narcissi too. They don’t suffer as much damage if we have heavy rain or strong winds at this time of year. The weather forecast is looking most benign for the next few days here and I hope it is for you too.
The small narcissus are much easier to deal with Anna and seem more in proportion in the garden
So glad to see that you are mostly better, and that Martyn is well on the way to healing. Your pasties look delicious, and your garden loos ready for spring.
Thanks Su. Martyn is trying not to overdo things and have a set back
It does look like spring has arrived there! And those parsnips and leeks look lovely too.
Here’s hoping it stays, Dave
Those pasties are a good idea for lunch out in the garden.
I think next time I’ll put the filling in little pies, Brian. There isn’t much filling in the mini pasties.
How lovely to see your signs of spring. The perennial beds will be gorgeous in the coming years.
I hope so Sue.
All my parsnips are up but I still have hopes for the leeks – although they will soon be blocking the new potato patch!
Last year we left the leeks too long Mal and they sent up flower stalks meaning that the centres were woody. We still have a row to lift.
I love the idea of the curried pasties with mango. Definitely one I will be trying. You’re parsnips look beautiful.
Hi, Amanda. The mini pasties didn’t hold enough filling really so next time I’ll pop the filling in muffin tin sized pies. To be honest I used a bit too much curry paste so added the chutney to tone thong down and it worked.