When I first became a professional gardener in 1976, I secured my first position (single handed gardener, with cottage and forty pounds a week) by assuring Mr and Mrs S. that I knew all about greenhouse work and that I could grow vegetables. I could do neither but with the help of a good text book and very fertile soil  my efforts were a triumph. I moved on after three years and I have been a failure at veg growing ever since. My first greenhouse 'crops’ were cinerarias and calceolarias grown as pot plants and again, following the instructions to the letter they were all magnificent plants, blemish free and in the most wonderful colours. Like the vegetables I have never been able to repeat this success until now when I have fifty huge dark green glossy cinerarias just about to reach flowering perfection with no botrytis or whitefly in sight. I only sowed the seeds out of cussedness and after a successful germination one thing led to another and I am overwhelmed. To be quite honest they are in the way, I need the space and I know they won’t be happy with the hot conditions in the house but I am pleased to discover that I am not, after all the worlds worst gardener. 

I am in a clearing up mood. Warm weather at present makes me think of spring and I am cutting back, tidying up and dividing perennials. I just can’t sit back and look at the mess for a moment longer. If the weather turns,  there is no harm done. The ponds too were full of blanket and duck weed (as green as you like) and so several wheelbarrow loads later they too are looking loved once more. The acres of york stone paving had turned into a death trap all very green and slippery and so with the help of Jeyes Fluid and a stiff brush all danger is past. The large wisteria which I severely pruned last winter has of course grown back twice as thick, one cut shoot turning into three. I spent a happy sunny hour climbing all over it doing the job again and that was very satisfying. To prove that in my head spring has arrived I would sow some seeds and pot up my autumn cuttings but there is no room at present because of the prize winning pot plants. Perhaps this is a good thing, it doesn’t do to get carried away well, at least thats what the book says.

Lily and Tulip, my jack russell, Daisy’s puppies have (sort of ) gone. I was going to be very sad over this but Tulip was taken by a member of the family and I was left with Lily to sell. Before I knew what was happening she too was spirited away by another dear family member to keep Tulip company. I did point out that they already owned Percy, the puppies’ father but deaf ears were being worn at the time. Daisy, for the first few days would not eat and kept looking at me and then at the weekend all the dogs came for a visit and it was mayhem.  We both dread these regular invasions now. We would quite like to have had regular reports about the girls and to learn that they were doing well but to keep our distance and move on with our lives. Pongo, a previous ‘Russell’ of mine lived to be nearly nineteen........... the future looks exhausting.