The sun's out and the christmas holidays are over and I want to get out in the garden but its too darn cold! That sun keeps tempting me, so today I ventured as far as the garden centre and picked up some seeds, a DVD on growing herbs (if I can't do it currently I can watch others lol), a book on making yummy things with herb scented oils and vinegars are I got some packets of seeds.

Thompson & Morgan are offering a free packet of Teesdale Violet (Viola rupestris rosea) seeds, which the pack describes as "A charming garden plant which makes a compact mound of heart shaped foilage with many fragrant flowers."
They're free with any 2 packs of T & M seeds, I picked up some Hyssop Tricolor Mixed, Chamomile, Meadowsweet and Dill, but now I have to wait until March/April to sow them. I know the garden has to rest and we have to have a winter, but could it get round to spring sooner lol! At least the violet seeds can go in next month. Until then I'll have to console myself with doing some planning and decided what will stay, what will move and what will go and any other changes I'm making.

Is anyone else getting itchy green herb fingers? If so do you have a solution or something you do to help ease the withdrawal symptoms? No chocolate suggestions please, not unless it's chocolate violet creams or some such herbal goodie

Debs

Hi Debs,
I was talking to my husband about your posting and he suggested that quite often people have some of the more unusual or exotic fruits in at this time of year and it can be fun seeing what you can grow from the seeds.

My thoughts would be to see if you can do any seed swaps with friends--I know it doesn`t get you out in the garden but if a few of you get together you will be able to increase the number of new plants for this year and whilst just one solitary gardener is capable of many flights of imagination for new planting schemes,just think how many more would be generated with a group of you.

A web site you might to look at is
www.periodplants.btinternet.co.uk
They specialise in plants that were grown in Britain up to the year 1700.
I got quite a few plants from them when I set up the Wimborne physick garden and found them to be very helpful

Regards
Linda

Hi Linda

I tried the link you posted but it wasn't working, could be the website is down, so will try again later. It sounds like an interesting place though.

Your husband's suggestion is a good one. Last year I inherited a greenhouse that was no longer needed, by the end of autumn my hubby had got as far as putting the frame up and a couple of pains of glass in it! I bought an olive tree and an orange tree thinking that they'd provide some winter amusement. Both I fear will not survive if we get some very cold and hard frost weather without the winter protection. As I just explained to by other half, if the greenhouse was finished I'd be able to continue growing things and keep more tender plants which would keep me amused in the winter. He's promised to get it finished by the Spring, so I won't have the same problem next year, I hope!

I dabbled with some plans for the garden yesterday, and drew up a list of herbs I'd like to add to the garden. Also ordered some seed catalogues and read up on some plants I'm interested in adding to the garden. I want to add a salad herb garden to the side near the kitchen window and a scented seating area. So I've jotted some ideas down and will cost out the materials ready for when it warms up.

Just got back from a visit to yet another garden centre, I came back with a pile of hyacinth and jonquil bulbs all 50% off and in the green, so if I plant them up later today, hopefully by March I'll have pots of scented colour that can then be transferred to the garden for next Spring. I also got more herb seeds, orange thyme, anise hyssop and russian tarragon. I'm planning to grow plants to swap with friends this year. Sarah and I have swapped plants in previous years.

Hmmm having a thought, if someone can organise a “members day” at Sulgrave or somewhere, we could have a seed/plant swap like they do at Gardeners World? Just talking about all the herby potential is helping this self confessed herbaholic

Debs

"It's too cold" I think depends on how desperate you are!

With the continuing saga of my ankles - I had a visit to my osteopath after work on Friday and he was very concerned that I've got too much fluid sloshing around and suggested both further blood work to see how my kidneys are doing and possibly a diuretic. The thought of asking my doctor for frusemide was just too much, so today, as we were at the farm and I had my husband with me, we ventured into the field and starting digging dandelion roots. Armed with a spade and a fork, an hour and a half later we had a washing up bowl full of roots, but what amazed me most was the new growth coming from the top of the dandelions!

Another hour later, they were all scrubbed and placed to dry off a bit in the oven of the Rayburn while I had an afternoon rest. We returned home at 5pm and the two of us spent the next ten minutes or so cutting them up into very small pieces to be covered with the ubiquitous vodka.

Two 2-lb jars are now sitting in the larder and I have to dash as we're off to see the Goldon Compass.

Do I get extra brownie points for getting involved with healing my own condition????

Best wishes

Sarah

Hi Sarah,
We were taught that it was dandelion leaves that were diuretic and the roots were a liver cleanser.

It is more difficult to find dandelion leaves in winter, though you said there were new shoots.

Good luck, Audrey

Sarah, you can have extra brownie points and a bravery medal for going out in the cold for that length of time! I did some gardening in the cold today, led once again by your example, I put some quince seeds in the fridge lol! Apparently this is done to force a winter so the seeds will grow, ummm why couldn't I just put them outside?! I have to leave them in the fridge for 90 days then I can sow them and put them in the warm.

I did also take 10 minutes to clear some debris, put it all in a lovely pile ready to go into the compost bin, then the phone rang so I went in to answer it, when I cam back outside, the wind had whipped up a frenzy and all the debris was virtually back where I moved it from, to add insult to injury it started to rain really heavily as well, so I gave up for today and will try again tomorrow. Glad to see that the days are getting longer though, went for a walk a few days ago and noticed some young nettles poking through the ground, they'll be sorry if it snows And yes I am itching to get back into the garden and start the new season, this year I have a mission!

Debs