Another envelope full of seeds arrived from Sarah Raven today so it was out the the greenhouse to tear open the packets and commit the contents to compost!

First was Calendula - a favourite for cutting and for warding off the bad guys in the veg plot. I bought new seed this year - for the last five years I have used seed brought from our previous garden in Northamptonshire. I suspect that it would have germinated OK but I saw a new variety that I thought I should have! Next is white Cosmos - a lovely plant that provides long-lasting cut flowers for several weeks. Thirdly Papaver rhoeas - we had these last year and the flowers are so lovely - you have to go out in the garden every morning to view the latest one to open it petals! And lastly a blue Centaurea, which mixes well with other cut flowers and lasts for ever in a vase. We have made a new border and these will fill the spaces that don't get permanent residents this spring. I am not sure how a new border ties up with our supposed low-maintenance plan - more on that later.

The first seeds that we have sown outdoors are starting to germinate - hello carrots and rainbow chard! I started off some carrots indoors in a piece of rainwater guttering and theses were planted out a few days ago - it will be interesting to see if we get anything to eat.

On the other side of the garden wall, Viburnum x burkwoodii is in bloom, as is the pear tree. The apple trees will soon join in. We have lily-of-the-valley to bring indoors and cast a beautiful scent and all sorts of perennials are growing away strongly.

Its a lovely time of year - enjoy your garden.

Susy