After an interminable six weeks between the winter solstice (21 December) and Imbolc (1 February), spring is here – according to the Irish calendar anyway.
An abundance of snowdrops has appeared around the garden and shoots of potential daffodils have sprung up under some of the trees. It’s exciting to see what else the garden will reveal in the coming months. All the flowery treasure hidden around the place by the former gardener…
Our own planted crocuses and daffodils (above) will hopefully burst into life in the coming weeks.
A few days ago we sowed our first seeds of 2021, converting the sunroom into a nursery. We sowed 200 red onion seeds, 20 tomato plants (five varieties) and some broad beans, parsley and beetroot.
We also set out two varieties of early potatoes (Colleen and Orla) to chit for six weeks or so, to start going into the ground after St Patrick’s day.
All going well we will soon be sharing images of the garden laid out with new raised beds! Waiting for the compost delivery with baited breath…
Ballyer Backyard 
So exciting! Nary a sign of the snowdrops here yet, but I keep looking! Starting my broad beans next week. Fun, fun!
Isn’t it just. I love this part of growing. The thrill of the first shoots… Second only to the delight of digging up spuds!