I knew I’d been very remiss with my blog lately, but until just now, when I re-read my last entry, from September, I’d not appreciated quite how remiss. So I must work to re-establish myself and write and read more over the coming months.

Like many UK based garden bloggers my thoughts are almost entirely linked to the weather, it has certainly had an enormous impact on my time in the garden over the past couple of months, and as for the allotment, well I’m just relieved this is the ‘down’ time as otherwise I do believe the powers that be would have been chasing me by now. That’s not to say I’ve not been gardening! I’ve added another plot to my ‘to do’ list, and more about that soon.

So, to catch up. I’ve nearly planted all my bulbs, a few tulips remaining and if the ground does not dry out soon, they’ll end up in pots. My autumn sown seeds have frankly been a real disappointment, those that did germinate have either been decimated by slugs, or have gone leggy and feeble looking from being placed in the shed – no slugs but not a great deal of light either. The sweet peas are looking grand, a good 6″ tall, but I’m worried they will not survive the winter months. I should be planting some more soon, perhaps between the batches I will get some viable plants for next year.

The garden itself is not looking too bad, I’ve made a point of collecting fallen leaves when I have been able to get outside, and I am looking forward to lots of lovely leaf mould in a year or so. Because I no longer have a lawn it all looks fairly tidy, but the paving is getting very slippery in places, so I can see some fun with a pressure washer next year.

Plant-wise, the most lovely looking thing right now is my Betula jacquemontii, this is the first year it has shed its bark and the clean white stems look fantastic. That and the grasses are the stars of the show.