After the longest, coldest winter that I can remember (and I was away for two weeks of it), spring is finally springing – with tubs of bulbs all bursting into bloom. I’ve been rushing about in the garden, trying to catch up with long-neglected pruning and getting some bare-rooted hedge plants in. Indoors, things are shockingly untidy as a result, but in among all the mess, we’re enjoying watching pots of spring bulbs open in the increasing light.
We’ve been enjoying waking to lighter mornings, with pink-tinged skies glimpsed through the raised guard’s van windows in our sitting room….
… and the early sun making the decorations on my daughter’s bedroom windows glow like stained glass …
As I embark on the next stage of work on the seaside garden, with the creation of proper paths, a large pond and the planting up of beds beneath the pergola, I have been thinking about all of the gardens I have made – none of them in particularly promising places. And I’ve decided to start a new blog, which will concentrate much more on gardening – chronicling my efforts here, and also championing others who feel compelled to garden in unprepossessing sites or circumstances. It’s called GARDENING AGAINST THE ODDS and you can find its embryonic incarnation here. It’s still in its early stages, but do pop over and see what you think. Meanwhile, things will continue here with regular posts on home life, photographs of my beloved beach in all weathers, favourite poems and so on…. I hope you’ll enjoy it all.
For background information on our project to turn two Victorian railway carriages into an eco-home, plus more photographs, garden writing and other journalism, and information on my past and current books, please visit my website.
The paperback edition of 
.
What pretty daffodils, I love the paler yellow colour. Can’t wait to see your new blog, I’ll pop over after the kids are in bed.
Oh Jennifer – thanks so much – and just so you (or anyone else) think you are going bonkers and/or don’t know your crocus from your daffodils – I changed the photo after you left your comment late (in UK time) last night!
x E
oh my what lovely spring scenes, I am very much enjoying this new sunshine we are having x
Beautiful flowers! In Maine we have had the mildest of winters, everyone else seems to have gotten what we normally do.
I look forward to your new blog! I garden in the middle of mowed field, it is a constant battle.
hey you x
hope all is well?
that last picture of the beach is simply stunning…. i shall skip over to the other blog now – i will be very interested as this is the year where i will have a proper veggie and flower garden hopefully growing through all that the sea will no doubt chuck at it!
will email soon as i have a little idea brewing that you may like
much love
t x
Lovely flowers, very jealous – mine are still buried under a foot of snow and still it keeps coming back every time I think it’s going to melt. At this rate I’ll be planting my potatoes in July!
Dear Elspeth, I shall follow your new Gardening website with much interest. It will be great to have a new blog to follow and i am looking forward to it and following here too. I think you’re right spring is springing. Yesterday I found a tick on my Labrador and one on my cat – a sure sign that the Spring has arrived even if it is not a particularly nice one. Much nicer are the spring bulbs, getting out into the garden again, and looking forward to the whole summer. I am going over now to your new blog….
Golly Elspeth,
A new blog, how exciting, I look forward to reading it! I shall still come here too as I do enjoy my visits.
I am just home from two weeks away too, and I am happy to be home and getting back outdoors. Like you I started cutting back on Sunday but it was bitter and my fingers lost all feeling! Had to give in after a couple of hours.
Good luck with the new blog,
Sarah x
Does gardening with dogs count as an adverse condition?
Near record warm temps here. Makes me wish I’d planted more winter crops….
How I long to be down on the beach again at sunrise/sunset/low tide. Another two weeks and I will be home. Time then to tackle the jungle of garden, which needs a great deal of “cutting back”. I have plans for it….but not always the time!
I reallly thing you are having a wonderful spring!!!!
Hi Elspeth,
I just took a peek at your new blog and think it looks wonderful! I look forward to following it as well as this one. Your photos are always so beautiful. Thank for sharing with us.