Through the garden gate in February


Welcome to through the garden gate for February. The keen eyed among you will realise as this is Brixham it isn't my garden gate and the sailor isn't my husband! It does look however a good gate for a coastal garden!


So what has been happening in the garden this month?.......


Well the first minature daffodils have appeared and also our first tulip. With drier weather this weekend the grass has been cut for the first time and that makes everything look so different. Has anyone else cut theirs? There was mention on the radio the other day that grass cutting had begun!



I bought some snow drops from the market to replace the crocus bulbs I previously mentioned had disappeared.  It always good to buy from the market, as not only are they cheaper but it comes with free advice, I was told that when the snow drops heads go yellow -tread on them and rub them into the ground and it will help increase the clumps. After I had bought them I also learnt that mice like snowdrops too!  The bulbs dry in the ground over the summer and are full of starch, which the mice love. Apparently the way to avoid this is to plant them 4 inches deep.


This time of year my thoughts always turn to what to grow in the summer. One of my birthday presents was a voucher for Sarah Raven catalogue. It has taken me a week to decide what to buy as I couldn't make my mind up - there was so much choice! I eventually decided on a clematis and cosmos and zinnia seeds.


 I also bought a pot of red pelargoniums plantlets to pot on from the garden centre. It contained 18 tiny plants, we shall see if they all survive!! We have moved them out of the greenhouse and into the conservatory, as we have had a few frosty nights.



The kale and mixed salad leaves planted in the greenhouse are giving us a good crop. Unlike the kale crop in the vegetable garden, which the pigeons have also discovered. They were even trying to pull the fleece off it the other morning after we had taken steps to hide it!


 Finally, as I started with the coastal theme, I will end with it too!

West Bay looking towards Lyme Regis

Another sunrise at West Bay, I so nearly didn't get up early to capture it, but I'm so glad I did!

West Bay looking along Chesil Beach to Weymouth & Portland at sunrise.

 What is the best thing in your garden right now? If you wish to join in with "Through the garden gate", please mention this in your comments below.
 Sarah x

Comments

  1. Oh wow, your kale inside is doing well! I'm glad I didn't plant any now as we moved but I'm sad I don't have any!x

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  2. The snow is disappearing here early this year but it will be months before anything grows. We have a short growing season compared to you.

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  3. It is lovely seeing the garden starting to perk up. I have a pathetic clump of snowdrops which I seem to dig up every year when I am weeding, quite a few daffodils out and a few crocus, lots of hellebores - and that's about it, we cut our lawn a few weeks ago, but it does seem to be growing quite rapidly with this milder weather. That is one gorgeous sunrise - they are lovely at this time of year as are the sunsets.

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  4. I love that we each have Daffodils growing around us now even though we live across the pond from each other, Sarah :) I was recently given a pot full of Snow Drops and was encouraged to Google how/where to plant them. Thanks to this post, I now know what to do. I'm glad you got up early to take that photo, too. xx

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  5. Oh how I wish winter were over! For now I'll enjoy your preparations.

    Happy Sunday Sarah! xo

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  6. We had a delightfully "warm" day here of 63 degrees! I worked in my garden clearing away leaves and dead plant material and found lots of daffodils coming up. Nothing in bloom yet, however. We have had snow storms in March in years past, so I really can't look for Spring until April. Your garden looks lovely. It is great that you have a green house in which to start your plants.

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  7. It's a lovely time of year when the sap is rising and colour starts poking through the soil. Your garden is looking well established already - you have done really well in giving it a mature feeling so quickly.



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  8. It's an exciting time o year for us gardeners...you can see signs of life everywhere...I think my snowdrops got accidentally buried under the studio some more will be needed as I do love them. Your garden is looking fab, I have greenhouse envy! ;) xxx

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  9. Your early spring garden is beautiful.
    I love the sunrise photo.
    The best things in our garden at present are the Lenten hellebores and a big camellia bush in full flower.

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  10. Good morning dear, dear Sarah!

    What a fun and inspiring place to visit and DREAM of the sea. You are already enjoying blooms! We are not quite there yet, but I do predict we will be earlier this year than ever.

    Enjoy the salty air and sweet surprise of spring. Anita

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  11. Looks like things are coming along nicely in the garden. My dad cut the grass on Saturday and then when I logged into the 365 project website I use that night, I saw several photos of 'the first cut of the year' and realised that this weekend it seems half the country has been out mowing!

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    1. I didn't hear many lawn mowers here over the weekend, but it is good to read we weren't the only ones! Sarah x

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  12. That's such a familar scene in your top picture of Brixham! He looks just like someone we used to know called Barry so he has that nickname for us now. ;) I'm so happy to hear you've cut your grass, that means I can do it too without feeling it's too early! Your snowdrop advice is really interesting, I didn't know that mice could nobble the bulbs if they weren't planted deeply enough. Have a lovely week! Jess xx

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  13. Hi Sarah, I wait for spring - it is comming soon. But not so quick as your spring - I have no daffodils flowering. Today I wait for snow - I hope, it will not come.

    Sigrun

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  14. I've been admiring the Sarah Raven catalogue for a few weeks now! Your kale and salads are looking good. No wonder the pigeons are after them :-) Well done on getting that sunrise shot – very lovely x

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  15. Your early flowers are lovely. In Missouri it is still quite cold. Our daffodils have sprouted up but will likely be killed off early as we are still getting frosts. The grass is still brown although there is some green trying to peek through. Tress are still bare. All in all not a lot happening here.

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  16. Yes, it's time to get busy preparing the garden for spring and summer. Sunny days allow us to perform a lot of gardening tasks, how happy I also feel about that!Your garden looks so promising Sarah!
    Olympia

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  17. It looks like your garden is thriving. I've had pigeon problems too.....a whole load of cabbage eaten to nothing. I did spot the problem earlier on but decided just to let them get on with it - probably a very silly idea! I love the Sarah Raven catalogue as well, and agree that it is very hard to pick from! Juliex

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  18. You are well under way and looking good. I'm going to try again next autumn planting snowdrops and take your advice. No doubt I have been planting far to shallow and my little mice friends have been nibbling. Just about to get busy with my seeds , I thinks the time has arrived! :) Barbara X

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  19. Dear Sarah,

    Loved seeing all the beautiful plants growing in your garden - the daffodils and tulip are a sure sign that Spring is on its way.
    Spring is my favourite season, seeing all the new growth and tiny bulb flowers appearing. Also enjoy seeing your wonderful seaside photos.
    Have a happy week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  20. I love your daffodils, so cheerful at the beginning of spring, and your vegetables look great....we've almost given up on some of ours as we had white butterfly problems.
    That sunrise is lovely. I have visited the Brixham area, (years ago) and it takes me back..

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  21. No mowing yet. The lawn is still far too soggy!
    I'm impressed with your kale. What a good idea to grow it in the greenhouse. It's the slugs that get mine here.

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  22. Your kale looks really healthy, Sarah. I've never thought of growing it in the greenhouse. I'm loving the miniature daffodils in my garden at the moment and I'm looking forward to seeing the Sarah Raven tulips which I planted in tubs last year. They were a birthday present. Here's my contribution to 'Through the garden gate' hope you enjoy coming through the gate into my garden! http://margaretspatch.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/through-garden-gate.html

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  23. Every time I read one of your posts I want to hop on a plane to visit.

    The best thing in my garden right now is more pop of color each day.

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  24. Yes ... through February and now into March some have had to give their grass a cut. Someone did also say they had spotted a bee!

    Your Spring flowers are looking a treat and I am so pleased you've shared your beautiful sunrise.

    All the best Jan

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  25. Hello Sarah. It's lovely to catch up with your blog once again and see how your garden is. You have some beautiful early spring flowers in bloom. The sailor in the gate made me smile! Grass cutting has taken place here recently, although there's been so much rain over the past couple of days I expect it'll be a while before it happens again!

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    1. It's lovely to see a comment from you Wendy again after so long! Sarah x

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  26. Hi Sarah, I do love reading about your gardening exploits but alas I am not much of a gardener myself, growing mostly plants in pots, I have a terribly minute garden with a sliver of soil down each side, having said that my Camillia japonica is in bloom, we bought it on the bargain section in our local nursery, but it's done really well in our soil and all the flowers are blooming! My daffodils are sparse and few and far between, but my tulips are slowly growing. Have a lovely week. Sharon

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  27. Hi Sarah, Beautiful photo's of your garden! There is so much in bloom already. I think you must be one or two weeks ahead. Oh to have tulips already.....I can't wait! I haven't started seeding yet either. Hope I will find some time this weekend.

    The books by Sarah Raven looks interesting. Is it good Sarah?

    Have a lovely evening!

    Madelief x

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    1. Hi Madelief, The photo showed one of Sarah Raven's catalogues' on top of another book we were looking at on pruning. I would however, recommend all Sarah Raven' books on gardening. Sarah x

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  28. We do not have snow drops around here Sarah and that is sad for they are adorable! I shall ask around and see if I can buy bulbs. Holly Heavens! Those are lovely photos of the waters. In May we will do gardening. Happy gardening to you!

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    1. I don't know whether you are able to find snowdrops that are already growing. They always recommend planting snow drops when they are 'in the green', rather than buying them as bulbs. Sarah x

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  29. Sadly,my little spring garden has been thoroughly trashed by the dogs these last few weeks, so not much happening there, but reading this has reminded me I must tend my indoor plants, the over-wintering pots in my garden room that are currently neglected!

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  30. It's nice to finally have some time to catch up on my blog reading. Thanks for passing on the tips about the snowdrops. I planted some two falls ago, but this spring hardly any have come back up. When I replant this fall I will be sure to put them 4" deep. Your kale and salad greens are looking great! My garlic is now about 6" high, and I still have a bit of my fall kale to harvest. And this week I hope to put in some arugula and some spring kale.

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  31. Your garden looks lovely! So enjoyed seeing the daffodils and those beautiful snowdrops!

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  32. Dear Sarah,

    there is something going on in your garden. It´s wonderful to be a witness of a new born garden every spring. Can´t wait until I can go out wearing a t-Shirt and start working in the garden.
    The garden gate with the sailor painted on is so extraordinary, I love it!
    Enjoy the mild days coming.
    Best wishes from Barbara

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  33. Sarah - I do so think that Sailor is quite the handsome one/ It does my heart so good to see your blooming flowers, it feels as though spring is just so far away yet here in the states. It is snowing as I type this. That purple tulip is lovely too. Thanks for the lovely lift. Best, Kim

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  34. Hello Sarah
    I would love to join in with "Through the garden gate" but being in New Zealand we are opposite seasons!
    My garden is looking a little sad after our long, hot, dry summer. However there are still moments of joy when I find a rose has appeared that I can pick for inside!
    I love the old salt behind the door!
    Your garden is looking so fresh and full of Spring arrivals! I can see the new green grass too!
    We've been to England a few times but not to Dorset - it looks lovely!

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    1. Hi Shane, You are still very welcome to join in, not matter what season you are in. It is so good to experience two different seasons at the same time. Sarah x

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  35. Thank you Sarah for the info on Snow Drops. Thank you for all the lovely photos. I am now your newest follower!

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  36. What a good idea to grow the kale in the greenhouse, will keep that in mind later in the year. Your pictures are always so beautiful, such glorious shots xxx

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  37. Oh you alreday have springtime! Lovely! Today it´s raining and it feels like an day in november, really boring...
    Take care now!
    Love from Titti

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  38. I am enjoying the delicate tete a tetes in my garden at the moment x

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  39. There isn't much to see through my garden gate right now so I'd rather come through yours! My daffs have just begun to bloom and the hellebore are putting on a show but everything else is still quite sleepy. I love the first picture! What a great painting and stairwell. :o)

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