Happy 1st of March to you all. For the optimists, debatably deluded on this frosty morning, this means spring has officially begun. For the pragmatists, we are still officially in winter until the 20th of this month. Naturally, I am in the former category, ready to be disheartened when the snow starts and all my seedling fail. If you would like to find out more about Six on Saturday-ing, the frequent flyer reward scheme and money off vouchers available, pop over to Jim at Garden Ruminations and be prepared to be disappointed by two of the above. Shall we shake a leg?
Last week’s crocus have opened in the welcome sunshine. Apparently we are set fair for a week, I will believe it when I see it.
Last week Fred included Furcraea foetida in his six and I promised I would include my young Furcraea longaeva for comparison. As OH had just eaten the last of the bananas, I have include our cat for scale.
I received a cutting of Salix gracilistyla ‘Melanostachys’ in the post from the wonderful Chloris many moons ago. This is the first year that it has flowered well. I am very pleased.
Last year’s comfrey feed is all bottled up and ready to go. Although I am sensorily deprived (not depraved) I have it on good authority that it is not as stinky as usual. It is hard to believe this could be a good thing. We will see.
A ragtag of crocus and violas, mostly nibbled, but from afar look quite lovely.
And finally, did you really think I would forget St David’s Day? I would be run out of town! Or, even worse, I would get one of Welsh Ann’s stern looks. Here, to celebrate the national day of my current home, is Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’, always a joy.
All done, a few glimmers of hope in a increasingly incomprehensible world. I fear it is not enough, but if we all do our bit it might be.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Are most crocus reliably perennial? If so, does that include those Dutch hybrid crocus?
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Yes they are, if I don’t spear them or dig them up by mistake.
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Sweet. Dutch crocus is all that is commonly available here, but they do not perform well for a second season, and might be gone before their third. I would need to purchase any other types online, but might eventually try some to see if they can be perennial with minimal chill. Weirdly, crocus that were supposed to be saffron performed well for a few years before they disappeared under a mudslide, but they were not saffron, and I never figured out what they were. They looked like saffron, but bloomed for spring immediately after Dutch crocus.
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Meteorological spring all the way (although when it comes to autumn I’m astronomical!) That’s a lovely lot of Crocus and Violas.
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I feel it could be used as a personality test, forget all those ink blots!
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Definitely with you on the optimistic rather than the pragmatic side. Woke up this morning thinking ‘March – seeds’ . It’s the gardener’s equivalent of March hares. Lovely flowers already though
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The only way is up now, perhaps with a little bit of down 😀
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Well saved! WA would have been in the queue behind me. Tho only 5 out of 10 as you are now in Wales so BIG D should have been first!
I guess that the jury’s out on whether it should be an “i” or an “a”. WordPress now has a polling widget, BTW.
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I was teasing you, don’t want to get in trouble with the natives!
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Our forecast is not so cheerful and it’s raining right now. No gardening, so I’m going to go make a big pot of soup. But as you’ll know, nobody gets it right and there might be a reversal in our next week’s gloomy forecast. So much colour in your cheerful pots. My violas look dead. Completely. I hope your not-so-stinky comfrey is ok, I admire anyone with the courage to make it. Happy St David’s Day. Lovely Tete a Tete to celebrate.
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The soup sounds lovely, I hope the sun has come out by now.
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Pinch and Punch to you too, but it seems there is no need for you to pinch your nose, so good on you for getting all your liquid feed ready.
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Very good!
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Indeed we have the same crocuses but I didn’t photograph them this week. It was in last week’s post I think. Thanks for sharing your Furcraea which gives me an idea of the size after a while you said…. there is a slow grower. I have to be patient
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I will let you know if the furcraea has a sudden growth spurt!
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Lovely pics, we need lots of hope for the future of all.
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Thanks Rosie, we do indeed.
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A pinch and a punch to you too! I am more of a pragmatist, although I am enjoying the spring-like weather today. Concerned though that as March has come in like a lamb does that mean it will exit like a lion? More delightful crocuses to adorn my screen and the pretty ‘Tête-à-Tête’ – though not all mine are multi-headed. As for the state of the world as we knew it, I imagine many of us are still in shock.
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I am hoping the lion has had the year off. As for the world, I think it is gime for the good ‘uns to stand strong.
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I’m glad your black pussy willow is doing its stuff. I’d forgotten I sent it to you, it must have been years ago. As far as I’m concerned it’s spring now and the birds think so too. We need all the glimmers of hope we can get.
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It was a while ago, when I was in North Devon I think. Not forgotten though!
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I am in favor of spring now! Is St. David’s Day about daffodils?
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Daffodils are the national flower of Wales and St David’s Day is the Welsh patron saint’s day. Leek also figure, but didn’t have one to hand! 😀
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Aha! Thanks
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Comfrey feed? How does it work?
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It is full of nutrients. Really good for greenhouse crops, which is what I will be using it for.
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