The Gardens at Barnsley House

Daphne laureola underplanted with blue Hepaticas.

After the treat of Sunday's warm sunshine my expectations of this week have been a little high. Today, like Monday and Tuesday has been generally dull, cold; but not frosty and most importantly dry! The dry soil has made seed bed preparation a joy and out in the vegetable garden Mark has sown Parsnip 'White Gem', Beetroot 'Boltardy', Spring Onion 'White Lisbon', Shallots 'Zebrune' as well as the Onions 'Long Red Florence' and 'Brunswick'. A couple of weeks ago Broad Bean 'Aquadulce Claudia' was also sown. Early sowings of Chard 'Rainbow' and 'Ruby' as well as Lettuce 'Little Gem' are in pots ready to go into the Potager.

Things are moving apace, the Winter Aconites have finished as have quite a few of the Snowdrops, Crocuses are proving their worth along bed edges and corners and the daffodils are waiting in the wings. However we could do with a few days of good sunshine to move it on to the next level; especially as we have an NGS Open Day on Tuesday 3rd April! It would be good if the Pond Garden Magnolia broke bud for this date and a nice blue sky to display the blooms against, is this too much for me to ask?

The Snowdrop 'Straffan' is always late with us and looking good in the Broad Border at the moment.