Our Garden in April

The honey bees and birds are really taking the chance to explore the garden in between showers, and on those rare sunny days you can really feel that Spring is finally on the way. This is especially true in the glasshouse where Spring has already arrived. The protected microclimate that the glass creates speeds up time, and it feels more like May in there. The Sweet woodruff in the glasshouse is actively growing and close to flowering, whereas the Sweet woodruff in the garden is still in winter mode. The tulips in the glasshouse are also weeks ahead of the ones outside. So, if you’re longing for Spring, make sure to take a little wander in the glasshouse.

We are spending a lot of time in the glasshouse as well, partly to stay dry, but also because it’s a great time to prune fig trees. This allows the tree to focus on fruit production, and it looks like we can look forward to a big crop this year. We are also pruning the lemon verbena in order to increase the yield.

The seed sowing season is in full swing and we have trays of violas, hyssop, hollyhocks and sunflowers germinating on the hot beds in the polytunnel. We are sowing the seeds in succession, so a few trays every couple of weeks, to ensure a longer harvest season.

Most things in the garden are starting to grow after their winter rest: daffodils and lungwort are in full bloom, the rhubarb is getting bigger every day and the buds on the trees are swelling. This also applies to perennial weeds, such as creeping thistles and docks, which we are doing our best to keep on top of. We are of course leaving patches of nettles and dandelions since we use those in the gin.

The harvesting season is just starting, and in the drying room you will find black violets, yarrow leaves and pear blossoms in addition to nettles and dandelion leaves.