Lockdown and Long Evenings

So we set our clocks forward an hour last weekend. I usually revel in this change. Though missing the early morning light, it is just wonderful to have an extra hour each evening to do gardening jobs.

This year however the flexible working hours imposed by the Covid lockdown has altered the impact. The Spring looks different - maybe its my own head changing the view but it seems colder and a little less cheerful, the wind has a cutting edge to it and weirdly the colour seems bleached compared to only a week or so ago.

The first primroses I found this year look a cool shade of white rather than the pale buttery yellow I expected. And though we had a few days this week with clear blue skies it seemed to accentuate the colour bleaching of the landscape.

The 2 km from home limit for walks or cycles is making me focus on my own garden at the moment. Planted several years ago, name long forgotten, these hardy tulips have ignored the cold and have brightened up the front boarder, showing me that though the world feels different at the moment most plants have failed to read that memo and are powering along on their own schedule.

This Euphorbia has been carelessly neglected, sitting in the plastic cattle-feed bag it arrived in some years ago. It is overshadowed by a large sack of Environgrind and is still giving its flowering plenty of energy and causing me plenty of guilt for my inattention to its needs.

Not to be defeated by the cold wind I took notice of the plants that are having a slightly easier time in the glasshouse. This Blueberry is in a pot and indoors for the moment, least the blossom gets whipped away. 

The wild strawberry is technically a weed but I leave them alone as their tiny fruit is more intensely strawberry tasting than any beautiful big berry.

I find great comfort in seed sowing and propagation in these uncertain times. It is a vote of confidence in the future. When these fuschia and sage cuttings are strong and healthy plants, we will hopefully be in a better space and I will be able to go and visit friends' houses and give them as gifts.

The 2 km exercise limit means that the plants around us are close to home. Their energy and drive is a good tonic - enjoy!

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