April 2001

   A joy to be in the garden on the first day of April after the rain and cold of March. The ground was still too sodden to sow seeds but my grand daughters and I had plenty else to do including laying down 'leaky' hose in preparation for that hot summer so many people are preficting. On that day when daffodils stood straight and tall and aubretia bloomed brightly on rock walls we could believe that forecast.

    The second day of April the rain and wind returned and stayed. However it has still been pleasant potting up and pricking out in the conservatory while looking at the colour in the garden.

Both the conservatory and greenhouse are over full since I am pricking out more half-hardy annuals than usual. I will need them this year. Many of my perennials have failed to come through the winter.

So far this month, the frosts have held off which was just as well just as well while my greenhouse heater was out of action. I nearly lost it permanently. One evening I forgot I had left a hose filling the butt. The water reached the heater which was on the ground nearby. The power supply to the whole house went off. I dried out the heater, and it is now working as well as ever. An accident like that emphasises the value of having a circuit breaker. I am really glad I went to the expense of having my house re-wired three years ago.

The daffodils are still out but the rain has beaten several to the ground long enough for the slugs to get at them. However whenever we have a few minutes of sunshine they immediately perks up

The lawn is too wet to mow but I have been able to take the top off with a strimmer.

In the past I have kept the conservatory to a minimum of 3 degrees centigrade but this year I have upped it to 5 degrees - extravagant, I know but the plants seem much better for it.

In between shower and down pour I rush out to do a bit of gardening. Under the black mulch material the grandchildren and I put down in the Autumn some ground was fit enough for planting out the mangetout peas, germinated indoors last month. Mostly though I have spent time potting on perennials and vegetables which should be out in the garden by now.