April

The start of April seems a long while ago. We’ve braved what seems like a year’s worth of season’s since. The killing frosts borrowed from Autumn, snow from Winter, spring hail, and a day of a summer heatwave- the only thing we didn’t have were April showers. With ill-advised foolhardiness, I planted out my sweetpeas. Only to have to endlessly fleece them against the -7 temperatures and three weeks of frosts. It almost killed them. They turned pale yellow and begun turning skeletal. You’ll be pleased to know, they’ve since bounced back with vigour. I love plants. Thank goodness for their resilience against reckless mistakes.

Though roughly 18 days behind on last spring- when things finally were brave enough to flower, April was beautiful; the abundance of spring, full and vivid. The narcissus and tulips, fritillaries, blossom and bluebells; colour poured out from all around. With social distancing restrictions lifting a little too- optimism and joy have returned in full hopeful technicolour.

The harvests began in earnest at some point in the month- perhaps only two weeks ago, it’s already a bit of a blue. Buckets and buckets of beauty heading out to local customers. I’m pleased to say too, that there’s finally enough crop for nationwide delivery now. Anemones, ranunculus, tulips and the last of the narcissus…. daffodils in May. It’s quite something.

I don’t think I’ll ever get over speciality tulips. They cost a small fortune to grow, but I think they’re worth it. I hope you do too. The colours, so rich and precious after the monotony of winter. They smell like hot lemon and honey too. I love to use them in designs, I find spring the easiest to weave together magic with flowers; every stem exquisite. Here’s to a beautiful, late spring.