Home again.

Back home and the weather is atrocious, thank goodness I have a greenhouse to shelter my auriculas in. They are repaying my attention given earlier in the year to rid them of vine weevil grubs and are rewarding me with a good display of colour. The wind and rain outside would have battered them to bits and certainly washed away the rather magical farina that settles on some of the leaves and petals.

They are difficult to photograph, the colours distort and I seem unable to capture their vibrance.

I have bought one or two new plants, not out of need, you understand, but because they were such a good price! A camellia, "Lavinia Maggi' for £3 and two clematis at less than £2 apiece. I've potted them on and they are sitting it out in the greenhouse attached to the garage with a load of other things that are sheltering from the misery that is our spring weather.

One of the tree peonies that I bought last year is in flower, Ho Hung or Hu Hong, I can't remember which. I shall plant it outside once I've found a space.

In the odd little patches of sunshine between the downpours I wander round the garden in my wellington boots and look in Eeyore fashion at the bare vegetable beds. I have only managed to plant onions and potatoes so far.

The 'St Patrick's Day' daffodils, planted under the fruit trees, are lasting well because of the cold, their colour is fading as they age and they look lovely as a carpet to the emerging pear blossom.

Do you remember last year when the plum trees were so laden with fruit that branches broke with the weight? I wonder what the coming year will bring.

The flower beds are soaking up the rainfall happily enough

but not everyone's happy!