I’ve reached that age when time seems to pass quicker every year. Usually, I bemoan the passing of each month and the rapid changing of the seasons. But, to be frank, January 2025 was decidedly underwhelming – cold, wet, and oh so grey!
Frost and rain
I have no good reason to complain. I spent some quality time with family, which was lovely, and had a mini break in Suffolk, which was delightful (albeit cold, wet and grey!). So, I think one of the key reasons for my glum demeanour was that I didn’t get my daily 15 minutes of green in ‘my happy place’.
It seemed colder this year. Despite being bundled in multiple layers, I could never get warm. And when it wasn’t frosty it was raining. I had no desire to squelch across the lawn to view the sodden tangle of herbaceous winter debris up close and personal, and I definitely didn’t feel like tackling the chaos lurking in my shed.
Indeed, the sight of so many perky people on social media out in their allotments sowing, digging and chopping made me feel very inadequate. But I couldn’t shake the lethargy.
A few January jobs
It wasn’t all bad. I did manage to sort through my seed packets ready for the sowing season ahead (which rarely starts before March for me). I continued to feed the birds, of course, and in return I was rewarded with entertaining flocks of house sparrows and blue tits, which in turn attracted a beautiful male sparrowhawk.
I even planted a few late tulip bulbs in pots, but then had to go into battle against the latest visitor to the garden – a large grey squirrel with a penchant for digging up tulip bulbs!
New month, new outlook
But finally January has passed and I’m hopeful for February. It’s started well. I’ve been to the garden centre and bought my seed potatoes: Winston (first earlies), Kestrel (second earlies), Maris Piper (main crop) and Charlotte salad potatoes. They’re now happily chitting on a bedroom window sill. And I’ve stocked up on peat-free compost ready to start some indoor sowing (maybe chillis, sweet peppers and aubergines this month).
I’ve also seen a glimmer of hope in the borders, as clumps of snowdrops and aconites emerge. Enough to lift my spirits, at least.
There’s plenty to do, like preparing the raised veg beds for the growing season ahead, cutting down the old autumn-fruiting raspberry canes, pruning and tying up the climbing roses, and the dreaded shed tidy up!
So, as we move into February, it’s time to get my backside in gear and make 15 minutes of green a daily habit again! I hope you’ll join me.