But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
Then I remember that melted snow turns into big puddles of wetness, so I'm not sure that the white stuff would be the answer. The wettest year in England which will no doubt go down in the annals of quiz questions is slowly raining itself out here. We travelled cross country by train, in an easterly direction for the festivities to spend a few days with my mother, before himself had to return to work yesterday.
I made the same journey less than a month ago - it was wet then but has noticeably deteriorated further. We passed one submerged field after another, submerged shrubs and trees, swollen rivers, underwater sports pitches and playgrounds - a most bleak and depressing landscape. I have made the same journey regularly over the years and have never seen anything approaching this. It was also more depressing to think that this journey did not take us through the most badly affected regions of the country.
I was on edge whilst we were away as there is a small stream running alongside one of the garden boundaries. I was relieved that nothing untoward had happened in our absence although it was obvious that there had been a good deal of rain whilst we were away. The garden though is sodden and dripping. I have got places to go - I want to get out there to cut away the old foliage from the hellebores, I want to plant the last remaining bulbs and to do some straightening up in the greenhouse. I also want to see my allotment again before I forget what it looks like. However even the inner glow of seasonal chocolate is not fuel enough to get me out there today. Instead I have dabbled with some inside gardening. I have planted a present of a hyacinth bulb up - well planting is an exaggeration. I had to partly fill the vase it came with with water and then place the bulb so that the roots are in contact with the water. It made me feel that I was doing something though however unsubstantial it really was. The hyacinth is 'Aiolos', promising sweetly scented white flowers but initially requiring a spell of at least a couple of months in a cool, dark and airy place according to the instructions. I'm not sure whether it will need this long, as I can already see a green snout emerging, no doubt prompted by already spending time in a warm environment. I shall hurtle out to the garage soon to find a suitable waiting in the wings place whilst there is still a lull in the rainfall. Then some time to spend flicking through the new Avon Bulbs spring catalogue trying to resist all those enticing snowdrops, before making a start on the annual cull of the contents of the seed boxes this evening. How is your garden faring with the weather and have you managed to do any garden related activities?
Like you I have perused the Avon bulb catalogue but that is as far as it has got! The garden is so sodden at the moment, I think I would vanish if I step on it, but I can see some snowdrops near the front and back doors! Would need welly boots to wade across the patio to photograph them, maybe tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteOh to be swallowed up by the garden would be quite drastic Pauline so I hope that you are safe and snug inside. It is also quite difficult to take photos at the moment given that the light is so poor but look forward to seeing your snowdrops sometime soon.
DeleteI'm hibernating at my parents' house and have done nothing garden related other than read gardening books and look at my garden related Christmas presents! Managed a few walks though, but it's rather grim weather isn't it! Here's hoping 2013 will be better!!
ReplyDeleteHibernation sounds like a most satisfactory state of affairs Anna and what better than reading about gardening if you can't do it :)
DeleteI have walked around the damp garden with the dogs a few times, and have been reading some nice books related to plants and trees, and that's about as far as any activity goes here in winter! :D (Enjoying the rest!) I seriously hope the rain will finally let up for you and all those poor people who have been flooded for at least the second time round.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy - I must admit that it has been pretty bleak here but compared to some parts of the country we have been most lucky. To have your home flooded would be absolutely heartbreaking. I fear that it is going to happen more frequently in the future.
DeleteI treated myself to one of those hyacinths with stones thingies and it has already started to grow after a week. My Avon Bulbs catalogue has lots of turned corners as I am thinking of buying some special snowdrops but not sure what to start with apart from something cheap - any recommendations?
ReplyDeleteMy garden is sodden, slippery and a quagmire. I have next week off and am desperate to get some fresh air
They don't take long to get going do they Helen and it is fascinating to watch the roots develop. Hope that there is some sort of let up soon and that you can get outside next week. Will email you later regarding snowdrops :)
DeleteI haven't done a thing garden related over the holidays, it's just so wet out there. It's saying something when even goalposts on a football pitch can only be identified by the cross bar being spared from being submerged. Fingers crossed that we're back on an even keel weather wise next year. I love hyacinths, you're in for the delights of the gorgeous scent it produces.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that 2013 produces a more 'normal' year Jo whatever that is :) Yes I'm looking forward to some pleasant drifts of scent from that hyacinth when it flowers even though they sometimes make me sneeze and sneeeze and .................
DeleteWet wet wet and today wasn't an exception. At least the temperatures aren't too bad. Managed to do some 'gardening' if you call it that, by finishing the pipe works for the pond filter which is inside a filter house, keeping us dry and warm whilst its drizzling outside.
ReplyDeleteIt has been abnormally mild hasn't it which is all part of the problem. Glad to hear that you have been able to get on with a garden related task and managed to stay dry at the same time :)
DeleteI was thinking of adding more bulbs, but find it hard to think that they'll do anything other than just rot in the ground at present... there's no sign of growth on the new ones I added in the autumn, but all the established ones seem to be cracking on. I guess they're used to this horrible, horrible weather!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it can't go on, and hopefully next year will be better than this one. Best wishes for 2013!
Oh Kate let's hope that we have a drier year. Thanks for your good wishes.
DeleteJust popping by to wish you all the very best for 2013, Anna. Hope all your hopes for the new year come true.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Jo for this comment and all the others you made here during 2012 - all much appreciated xxx
DeleteDo hope that your weather turns kinder. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your good wishes Diana :)
DeleteI think the answer to this wet and gloomy weather is to sip hot chocolate (or something stronger!) and look at seed catalogues - so full of dreams that are completely undisturbed by the realities of the coming gardening year.
ReplyDeleteMaybe something stronger is the answer Denise as it might blot the rain out :) May the new gardening year be a less challenging one.
DeleteMy current gardening is limited to indoor pondering and dreaming, due to being away with family. But before I left I did manage to prick out some seedlings and plant out some pak choi - which was my reward for clearing up the broken glass and replacing it in the greenhouse... The wind got it and wreaked havoc - the door is now wedged close with a brick and I am anxious to get home to check on things... Here's hoping the weather improves soon or the country will be full of near-crazy gardeners trying to persuade themselves that planting bulbs in pouring rain in sodden soil is sane...
ReplyDeleteHope that there has not been much damage done in your absence Janet. Indoor pondering and dreaming seems the best and safest option just now :)
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