This was the view from the back door yesterday, with the sun shining brightly and temperatures warm enough for me to be outside in shorts and a sweatshirt. I spent some time working in the garden, stripping ivy from one of our fences and cutting back dead stuff and pulling weeds.
I know winter isn't over. We could and probably will have more frosts, and potentially even a whopper of a snowstorm. But it's hard not to think ahead when the weather is as nice as it was yesterday. Besides, spring things are happening!
...but so is a crocus, definitely an early sign of spring.
And the snowdrops have opened.
The problematic ivy was growing on the fence between us and Mrs. Kravitz. She asked me to remove it some time ago (you know how she's obsessed with the fence) and it was threatening to overshadow our honeysuckle, so I finally got around to it. I also pulled some ivy out of the flower beds. I am forever pulling ivy.
Here's our tree fern, looking very feathery and lush in its protected corner of the patio. We haven't done anything special to overwinter it this year. The gardening shows all advise wrapping the trunk and stuffing the top with hay or burlap, but I've come to the conclusion that in London, tree ferns generally manage on their own. Mrs. Kravitz doesn't do anything to hers and it looks good year after year. Out in the chillier countryside or up north I'm sure they need special care, and if we had snow I'd cover it.
Olga joined me outside to enjoy the sunshine. You can see that our daffodils are budding too (on the left). We'll have daffodil blossoms any day now.
I still need to weed the patio and we need to have someone come and service the lawn mower. It mysteriously stopped working right at the end of the season last year and I gotta get it in shape before we have to start mowing again.
You may be wondering how (or why!) I'm doing all this gardening if I'm sick. Well, honestly, I don't feel too bad. Just a little tired and stuffy. And it feels good to get outside, even if just into the back garden!
I love tree ferns and had forgotten about them until I saw yours. I had three growing very well in the front yard of our house, then we sold the house and when I rode past on a bus a year later the entire yard had been concreted for his trucks and motor bikes :(
ReplyDeleteQue Sera.
Oh no! I would hate to have seen that! I still mourn the landscaping that the new owners tore out at my childhood home in Florida -- though they kept more than they removed, fortunately.
DeleteThe tree fern looks very much like what grow wild here and they can cope with light snow at least.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why no one ever mass plants hellebores. They are so attractive.
It's an Australian tree fern -- when we bought it we had to be sure to get one with a "sustainably harvested" tag.
DeleteYour tree fern is magnificent. I thought that they died back in winter ,like a "normal" fern, but yours obviously enjoys its cosy corner!
ReplyDeleteSome of the older fronds die back but it stays mostly green! And then new ones emerge in spring.
DeleteIt’s great you have the garden to keep you occupied while you‘re quarantined. I miss those seasonal flowers (not enough to move back to seasonal) and the tree fern looks very happy.
ReplyDeleteIt IS nice when the early spring growth appears. It provides hope for the future!
DeleteIn early February your tree fern looks magnificent. The sheltered location is perfect. Oh, I see that Frances used the adjective "magnificent" too. Great minds think alike.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to like that corner, and with all the glass it gets a bit of warmth on cold nights.
DeleteThat fern is amazing. So is that garden of yours, really. I love the tiny glimpses of spring and comfort myself that under a foot of snow, the same magic is beginning to unfold here. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI have a question about that massive tree fern. It's pot looks quite small. Does it ever get root bound? Does it ever need repotted?
DeleteWe haven't repotted it since we bought it a couple of years ago. My impression is that the root system is quite small. I think most of the plant's water absorption comes through the trunk.
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI imagine being in the sun makes you feel better, and the garden looks lovely for it. That tree fern is amazing; gorgeous. As is Olga ... always.
ReplyDeleteOlga appreciates hearing that! :)
DeleteThe tree fern makes me happy just to look at.
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you can get out and do a little outside work while the weather is mild, even if you are sick. I'm so glad that you and Dave have such mild cases.
Mild but persistent! I am not happy with how long my symptoms are holding on. But I've been told this thing hangs around for a while.
DeleteI'm glad you are feeling well enough to do some gardening. That's a huge plus and being out has to be good. We have about 13" of snow here in Michigan. I like London's climate better!
ReplyDeleteYeah, when I hear about all the snow people in the states are dealing with I realize how fortunate we are! We sometimes get snow but never that much.
DeleteIt is supposed to 52F here today, definitely warm enough for spring. But we still have snow on the ground so it will only feel like it.
ReplyDeleteFifty-two is downright balmy for an Iowa February, I imagine!
DeleteJust look at all those blooms and that tree fern is wonderful. The garden is looking good.
ReplyDeleteI noticed yesterday that the flowering pear trees are starting to bloom. I need to get out to get a photo or two. They seem to go from completely bare to in full bloom within a day. It always surprised me.
Isn't it great to see these signs of seasonal change?
DeleteOnce again your daffodils will be blooming before mine even peek out of the ground. It does feel good to get outside in the sun after winter and start cutting back last year's detritus.
ReplyDeleteOurs began opening yesterday!
DeleteWe're supposed to have warmer temps this week, but I'll bet I don't work in the yard. Ha! I think our daffodils are also thinking about blooming. That reminds me that I should check them out the next time I'm home & it's light out.
ReplyDeleteI always love to see the daffodils. That makes it officially spring in my mind -- even though it's not yet.
DeleteIt does look beautiful and spring-y there. Love all those flowers blooming and that fern is so big and happy.
ReplyDeleteReally glad you are feeling well enough to get out there in the yard and do some gardening. Yay!
The sun is the biggest change -- we seem to have a lot more bright, warm light.
DeleteFresh air and sunshine are so good for you! Here in Florida it is still drizzling non-stop making everything boggy. Temps are up to 50!
ReplyDeleteThat's about what they are here.
DeleteI think that fern is more tree than fern. It's lovely. How mild London is. All the spring growth is probably helping you feel better. I'm glad you have a garden to work in, so much better than quarantining in a flat.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely -- we'd have been insane through the lockdowns if not for our outdoor space.
DeleteHappy to see you (and Olga) got some mild weather so you can get out in the backyard during your quarantine. Lovely to see signs of spring there. Here February is one of those months where you can get into the 60s (15C) one day and have a blizzard the next. March can be the same. Not great for budding plants.
ReplyDeleteOur February and March are the same -- it could all turn on a dime. We've had March snowstorms before.
DeleteIt's always important to get fresh air and sunshine. We're having some milder weather too and it's nice.
ReplyDeleteIt DOES make me feel better to get outside.
DeleteThe top picture makes it appear to be a secret garden. It must seem that way in the midst of summer.
ReplyDeleteWell, it feels a bit secret and it's walled or fenced on all sides, so that's nice. But those apartment buildings behind us overlook it, so plenty of people can see right down into it!
DeleteYou sure are managing to stay busy! Your garden looks as if it is bordered by a castle in that top picture. How lovely to be able to step out your door and be in nature. That fern is amazing.
ReplyDeleteThose are the flats on the next street over. It's a nice-looking group of buildings, but we get the back side, which isn't as ornate!
DeleteYou're better! Getting outside is good, laying around the house is so boring. Hope you test negative soon.
ReplyDeleteYeah, little by little, though I have a headache this morning. :(
DeleteOlga Girl Sunning That Belly, Delightful - Pure Bliss
ReplyDeleteCheers
She LOVES the sun on her belly!
DeleteDoes Olga help you with the garden work or just supervise? It all looks lovely and promising. That hellebore is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHa! She is strictly a supervisor. Unless she's chasing one of her toys.
DeleteOh Steve, I am sorry that your not feeling well, but just getting outside in the back garden and enjoying the sunshine really makes a huge difference in how we feel when we are not feeling our best.
ReplyDeleteOn Sunday after the ice storm I did the same. The skies were sunny, clear and blue with a lot of sunshine and I sat on the patio and just did nothing. It felt wonderful while it lasted. We live on the shady side of the building and the warm sun was fleeting but it felt so good at the time.
I wish I could recognize and name the flowers that you can. I love them all but I would totally fail to "Name That Flower" lol.
Feel better soon. Hugs.
As long as you appreciate them, that's enough. You don't need to know their names!
DeleteI know you're thrilled to see signs of spring! We've had such wide temperature swings that a few things are already trying to bloom (that shouldn't be yet). I don't want anything to mess up my pears, peaches, and mayhaws!
ReplyDeleteOlga looks like she's enjoying getting her vitamin D while you work in the garden. Dogs sure do love sunshine :)
It's tricky when you're growing fruit, I know. Hope things work out!
DeleteAnd the GREEN! Living in the Arizona desertlands, we are starved for green and exult when we see it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, things are still quite green. The grass is patchy but you can't tell from that angle!
DeleteSo glad you and Dave were vaccinated and are beating Covid. You are lucky to have such nice weather so you can be out in the garden. We are still covered in snow! Take care!
ReplyDeleteThe garden is making a huge difference for us!
DeleteOh my gosh Steve. I have been absent from the blogosphere as of late, and this afternoon I had some free time so I thought I'd check the blogs I follow. And then when I read that you had Covid I had to go back and read your older posts to learn more about your circumstances. I am glad that you haven't been too sick with it. I know it must be a pain not being able to go into work. I hope this finds you and Dave on the mend. Take care.
ReplyDelete