January was very January. Tax returns, shot days, long night and not much in the way of beautiful flowers and ingredients- all in all a tiresome month. And then February arrived, the birds began to sing again and the snowdrops began to flower. The hellbores are flowering away and have been joyous. We have forced bulbs in pots and they’ve been lighting up the greenhouse with their colours and scents. Every day brings new growth and more crocus’.