Bulbs are up – spring is nearly here

I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older. ― Virginia Woolf, Jacob’s Room

Crocuses flowering in the front garden – 15 Feb 2015

When I was younger I thought Autumn was my favourite time of year – it’s when my birthday is after all.   I like watching the leaves change, kicking my way through piles of leaves on country walks and relaxing next to a real fire.  I love crisp autumn and winter blue skies as long as I’m wrapped up well – I hate being cold. But over the years, I’ve got thoroughly fed up with months of rain, overcast skies and dark evenings. I’ve never been diagnosed with SAD syndrome but I do think I have tendencies towards this.   I find the Autumn and Winter make me glum a lot of the time – though I have all strategies to try not to sink further into gloom.  They don’t always work – for a start I miss sitting in my garden in the winter – and that doesn’t help much either.  Maybe this year we’ll get a fire pit.

So I’m definitely with Virginia – I love Spring. It’s all about new beginnings, opportunities and change.

I don’t do New Year resolutions either; I make all my changes on in mid-February usually – I do it on my terms and just get on with it.  I don’t beat myself up about what I don’t change or keep having a go at and not quite succeeding at (getting into smaller jeans, for example).  I do believe that if something didn’t work out today have another go at it tomorrow.  But, it’s also just as important that I need to do things differently or look at the problem differently and try to find a new way to do something.

As  I make changes at a different time of year there’s no pressure from ‘new year new you’ articles and no smug celebrities flogging books, new wonder drinks or food.  And as for ‘detox’ with this or that juice? Don’t even get me started on this – it’s tosh.

There are quite a few things I’d like to change or try this year and this is one of the reasons I decided to write a blog.

There are many things I love at this time of year:

• It’s NOT dark on the way home from work
• It’s not January anymore – Hurrah! I really struggle with January
• The snowdrops are out – though I can’t get them to grow in my garden.
• Crocuses are out in OUR garden – only purple ones so far
• Planning trips out – the National trust card is going to get some use this year

So spring is definitely on its way – here’s the crocuses came up in our front garden – it has really brighten my mood. We’ve even booked a holiday – to Cornwall in May.

Tips from an amateur gardener

• Usually I buy my bulbs from Wilko – there’s a great selection at a good price.
• Buy your bulbs in the winter for summer flowers like lilies and in September for Spring bulbs
• Plant them in little clumps not in rows and check the depth!
• Have fun! And if you don’t like where they are you can always move them for next year.
• Label them if you dig them up

*****

What would you like to change from tomorrow? and what are your favourite bulbs and why?

Carpe Diem

love Bec xxx