Mid April

Spring has sprung and once again I am surprised. I’ve worked in my garden through the autumn and winter and I had got quite used to the dormant state of my plants and the shape they gave to the garden. Now we have had a few warm days and a bit of rain and all of sudden my garden has changed completely. Herbaceous plants have gone from a few tiny shoots to a healthy clump, deciduous plants are now cloaked with fresh spring growth and even evergreen plants are transformed by a flush of new foliage. I know it happens every year, but I had quite forgotten what glorious growth can be forged in a few days in spring.

I think this is my favorite time of year (although I know I’ll say the same thing at three weekly intervals throughout the year). The parks are full of blossoming trees and there seems to be so much promise in the air. Summer may be the season for experiencing the glories of the garden, but deep down there is always a feeling that the peak is just the top of a downward slope to the dark days of winter; spring brings promise of more to come.

The birds are hard at work in the garden too. They are hard to miss at this time of year as they work their demanding schedule of finding food and mates and nest sites, and all the while they keeping up their exhausting serenade (or is it a gladiatorial song?). I have been gardening my plot for two full years now and my allegiance with the birds is now paying off. I have two nests (a robin and a blackbird) and many more visitors to the garden and between them they have a daily clear-out of slugs, snails, caterpillars and other crawlies – and it is very satisfying to see a bird hopping past with a beak-full of caterpillars.

Here at Clifton Nurseries, we are also coming to life. As we approach our busiest weeks we are well stocked with plants, pots products and I am pleased to say we are also well stocked with staff. We have managed to keep most of the employees we had last spring, so we should be running like a well oiled machine this year. Paul Mottershead (our plant buyer) is well ensconced now and he’s finding us some beautiful plants. Our new Herbaceous supplier is sending us some great stock and our new supplier of trees is coming good too. It all bodes well for a great spring and summer.

Early April

Spring has defiantly sprung here at Clifton Nurseries. As I write, the staff are working in tee shirts and the bees are out in force. It is a lovely start to the season and hopefully heralds a hot and sunny summer that will extinguish all memory of the previous two.

The nursery is filling up nicely. The herbaceous perennials are back from their over wintering ground and new stock has been brought in. Herbs are back too, even the first Basil plants (a little to early for my liking, but in a greenhouse or cool windowsill they’ll do fine - tomato seedlings, strawberries and salad plugs are also here and the same advice applies). Tender bedding plants have started to arrive too. These bright summer plants certainly give us all a lift, but please keep an eye on the weather forecasts and be ready to protect or bring in tender plants.

Many of you have told us that the cold, hard winter finished off plants that had survived for years in your gardens. Unfortunately, that is the nature of our climate. In most years London basks in a Mediterranean climate and deep frosts don’t penetrate, but every few years mother nature shows us who’s boss and snaps a frost. Pelargoniums (bedding geraniums) are the most common casualty, but I’ve heard of previously hardy shrubs and even young trees that didn’t make it – if you have been affected, don’t worry you are not alone, even some of the plants that we covered in fleece caught the frost.

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW OPENING HOURS:

In response to customer demand, we are staying open until 7pm (Mon-Sat) through the busy spring and early summer. Our Sunday hours remain the same, and we will continue to open at 8.30 in the morning.

Happy gardening and we look forward to seeing you this spring.

Guy Pullen

Nursery Manager