As I’ve got older I’ve found that this is my favourite time of the year. Tomorrow is the Spring equinox and also Ostara- the Pagan celebration of Spring. Everything is coming back to life as Mother earth wakes the land with the promise of sunshine and warmth. A renewal and regrowth that sometimes in the depths of winter is almost forgotten. I hear little birds singing beautifully at night as they serenade a mate. Several rookeries nearby are filled with great nests, constant comings and goings and noise like huge bird towns up in the sky. As I walk the dogs I love to see little points of green appear on bare branches and masses of daffodils everywhere. Outside my front door the mounds of yearly snowbells are going back to sleep and the bluebells are on their way. The land is sloughing off winter like I shall my big coat. I feel blessed.
In my little greenhouse this afternoon it was 75F yet this morning Jack Frost was everywhere and a thin sheet of ice laced car windscreens until the sun rose enough to chase him away. Surprisingly my water butt is empty. Why do we only notice when it rains but not when it doesn’t?
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade” – Charles Dickens.
This year I hope to grow more greens: kale, chard, spinach, beetroot and different types of lettuce. I seem to have a knack with flowers, tomatoes and peppers but greens and root veg don’t seem to like me. Right now I have an abundance of these growing in the greenhouse to pot up when they are larger. Everything has taken off already. Dahlias, Zinnias, Carnations, marigolds, sweet peas and my favourite Aubrieta that I put anywhere that I think it will grow. My sunflowers already need potting on to larger pots as does my Pak Choi and I have three little aubergine seedlings growing in my bedroom that may be moving home with the promise of warmth this weekend.
The light in the mornings and the light in the evenings is a joy that can truly be appreciated after the cold, dull and grey depression of a human winter without the animal rest of hibernation.
Happy new year!