Winter is here. Today the weather was beautiful, but freezing cold. We hardly ever get snow here in Christchurch but we get some hard frosts - this morning's was -3 degrees. That was followed by a sunny day, but it was a winter's sunny day - the kind where if you step from sun into shadow, the difference is about 15 degrees. There's not much else to do but curl up (in the sun, of course) with a cuppa and a seed catalogue.
Luckily the new Kings Seeds catalogue arrived yesterday. I quickly whipped through it and circled all my wants. Last year I was so excited to finally have a dedicated vege patch that almost all I ordered was vege seeds, and I still have plenty left for this year. However, I miss my flowers! I want a colourful beautiful cottage garden, as well as a lovely decorative and productive potager. That's not too much to ask is it?
My flowery wants include:Calendula sunset tones
Dianthus clove pinks
Gilia birds eye
Godetia azalea beauties
Lavatera parade
Of course, there are some more veges and herbs to try:
Bush basil
Coriander indian summer
Bean yard long dwarf
Bean sunset runner (with beautiful pink flowers, this one counts as decorative too!)
Carrot mini sweet
Pumpkin baby bear
Squash delicata
As always I'll be trying one or two different tomatoes. This year I'm going to order from Bristol Seeds. I'm eyeing up Amazon Chocolate, Brown Berry and Sunset's Red Horizon.
In the meantime, I'm looking at my photos from seasons past, and reading blog after blog. Northern hemisphere gardens are looking lovely right now, and I'm getting plenty of ideas for when the days warm up again.
Here's a mini cross stitch I've started. I was given the kit by a clever thrifter who spied this in the Sallies and thought of me. It's a great way to while away a winter evening. Hopefully by the time I've finished it, it will be time to sow seeds again.
I've been doing the same thing, so many lovely plants to grow (flowers or veg!).
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to having a nice potager this season too.
Best wishes
Ditto. Those pink flowered beans are on my list too. Thanks for your comment over at my blog. I inavertedly bought convolvulous into my garden amongst some boysenberry roots once. Then I spent two seasons swearing and digging up it's white roots to eradicate them. I did it finally though! I have a suggestion for you, it's not organic but desperate times call for desperate measures, it worked for me to kill off the last of them. When you see the shoots coming up in spring. Cut them off, then paint the cut with round up "neat" . Also yes I've planted some garlic. Not nearly enough yet, I have to get out and get some more beds cleared for them. All the best from Gilly
ReplyDeleteI just got mine yesterday, I'm also tempted by those pink flowered beans, but my husband is a very fussy bean eater. I'll take the catelog with me when I pop up to Ch-ch today to visit Senz
ReplyDeleteGilly - thanks for the tip about the convulvulus, I must admit I have been using Woody Weedkiller to try and get on top of it. That stuff is entrenched though... it's obviously been there for many years... sigh!
ReplyDeleteSummer is the day that all kids are waiting for. Summer means no class and full of fun. I think almost everyone is dreaming like what you dreamed. You have a good blog.
ReplyDeletegood blog good art
ReplyDeleteyan http://indonesiapainting.blogspot.com