February News & Growing Tips From The Cutting Garden

  At last snowdrops are opening their delicate blooms here in the cutting garden, in the woods, even by the side of the roads - such a welcome sight! There’s nothing quite like these bright little flowers (except perhaps the first Crocus) with petals flung wide to welcome the sun – it really cheers me up on a cold day. A tantalising glimpse of the flowers to come in the months ahead. 
 
  As the days become longer, it finally seems possible better weather is on the way.

   And I’m ready for it – the freezing conditions since early December really set us back on our plans to improve paths, add new cutting beds & generally tidy up around the main nursery & entrance areas. I seem to have got more done in the last 3 dry days than in the previous two months! Probably an exaggeration I know, but I’m not good at being indoors when there’s so much to do.
 
   At the moment, it seems the Snowdrops are blooming at about the same date as last year despite the cold (& two weeks ahead of Spring 2016). Whether that trend continues with other flowers, we’ll have to wait & see.
 
  The birds certainly seem to be aware of the calendar – if the old tale that they choose their mates on Valentine’s day is true, they’re singing their hearts out establishing territories. I’ve noticed a pair of woodpeckers who seem already very ‘attached’ here this past few days.
 
   As for flowers, February heralds the delivery of the new Dahlia tubers & they’ll be started off in the polytunnel in pots & crates. They must be protected from the frosts as they grow so we’ve bought an additional light weight polytunnel just for them. I’ll begin sowing seeds in earnest from the middle of the month indoors but there’s no rush. Unless there’s space for them to grow on in the greenhouse or tunnel, they’ll get leggy with only the low light levels available on windowsills.
 
   I’m delighted to be working on our first wedding of the year this week – an elopement to Gretna Green! Can’t say more as, well – it’s a secret. Our lovely Bride will have Lincolnshire Tulips & deliciously scented Narcissi from the Scilly Isles plus Heather & lots of foliage from the cutting garden in her bouquet.
 
  And we begin our calendar of events around the region on March 3rd when we take part in the ‘Big Brew’ event at Dunscore during Fairtrade fortnight. There’ll be an opportunity to see Fairtrade products from around the world & to meet local producers from Dumfries & Galloway. Do come along & say ‘Hello’ if you’re attending the event.
 
   It may still be cold outside but at last there’s a feeling plants are beginning to grow & better weather is on the way. A ‘Blooming good time’ is coming!
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Jobs for the Cutting Garden in February;

• Protect bulbs planted in pots from squirrels & rats with chicken wire – they particularly seem to enjoy my Tulips & Alliums, while tossing daffodils uneaten to the side
• Weed seedlings begin emerging as the soil warms up so an hour or two spent hoeing or hand pulling them now saves more work later
• Prune late-flowering Clematis cultivars before active growth begins. Cut to just above a low pair of healthy buds about 6 – 12” (15-30cms) above soil level. Leave the early flowering Clematis until after flowering
• Clean up the decayed leaves blown on to the soil by the wind & cut back dead stems on the perennials such as Delphiniums. These make a safe place for slugs to hide so a tidy up lets the birds find a free meal & prevents damage to the tender new shoots.
• Put up nest boxes for birds this month so they have time to discover them before the breeding season begins
• And for some flowery inspiration, here's a Link to a beautiful Cornish Barn Wedding from last Summer. The beautiful Photography is from Samuel Docker Photography.

Until next time,
Rosie Gray
Galloway Flowers

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