Have Your Say with our Blogs and letters from St Albans Review

One time Watford Observer columnist Ann Janes returns to the newspaper fold with her gardening blog in which she shares some personal views and tips on how to prepare, plany and maintain your garden. Ann has a life long love of beautiful gardens, both great and small, and is particularly interested in the history of garden design. She will also aim to address your gardening problems if you post them at the end of her column.

GROWING FROM SEED

What wonderful weather and how good it is to see the sun – making it all the more difficult to realise that above the clouds, where we can’t see, is filled with volcanic dust. There is nothing like sunshine to make us want to get out into the garden and start getting to grips with all that needs attention. But please don’t get carried away with enthusiasm, the cold weather can still be a problem, only a couple of nights ago there was a heavy frost. In this area frosts have been known right into May. So don’t be complacent, keep an eye on the weather forecasts and be ready to cover vulnerable plants with horticultural fleece, or something similar.

Don't forget Forget-Me-Nots

A garden favourite that is so often taken for granted is the humble forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica). The individual flowers may be tiny but during the spring months their sheer quantity of numbers gives an air enchantment to our gardens.

EASTER GARDENING

Traditionally not only is Easter the time for chocolate Easter Eggs and Easter bunnies unofficially it seems to be the beginning of the gardening year. Garden centres and nurseries put a big effort into filling their premises with all sorts of tempting offers, whether it is plants, garden furniture or any of the many items that we didn’t know we needed for our gardens until we see them.

Is it really spring?

One thing that April is noted for is its changeability, a fact which can be to our advantage, think of the old adage which tells us ‘April showers bring forth May flowers’.

The eternal enemy!

The days are lengthening, the sun is shining and the temperatures are rising, at last we feel we can cope with getting to grips with the garden.

AT LAST, AT LAST - DAFFODILS ARE HERE!

I have heard from several reliable sources that spring has been on hold and is running four to five weeks late. As if we hadn’t noticed. Given the cold and miserable weather of the last few months I think we can be forgiven for getting excited over the first sighting of this year’s crop of daffodils, with their glorious bright colour. Driving to St Albans a few days ago I was enchanted to see the progress the plants were making and that at long last they are beginning to show colour.

Another burst or brilliant colour - Primulas

Whatever the weather throws at them hardy primulas can be relied on to bring a blaze of colour to our gardens, containers and baskets. They come in a wide range of colours from subtle whites and soft pastels right through to flamboyant purples, reds and rust.

A BURST OF BRILLIANT COLOUR

Just mention anemones and we immediately think of the brightly coloured blooms that create such an impression in florist shops and on market stalls. As soon as they appear they are in huge demand as cut flowers and it’s easy to see why. With their combination of vibrant colours and simple open shapes it’s no wonder they are irresistible. But the story doesn’t begin and end there, these ever popular flowers are only one part of an easy-going family, many of which are fully hardy, and can do a lot to enhance your garden.

Go on - try growing your own vegetables

We are told that we are now out of the recession, well just. For most people money is still tight and it makes sense to make the most of what money we have, and also make full use of what assets we may have, ie garden space.

SNOWDROPS - A SIGN OF HOPE IN LATE WINTER

Snowdrops are one of the joys of late winter. With their nodding heads of exquisite little white flowers, tinged with the freshest of green, they are a promise to gardeners everywhere that a new floral year is beginning.