Thursday 6th February 2020 - Concerned and Norfolk Lavender

It just does not feel like winter. It’s not, as we would expect with just the snowdrops in flower, but there are other plants in bloom in our garden, including crocus, primroses, pansies, camellias, violets, helleborus and not far behind, the daffodils. The last two days, although cool in the shade, have been warm and sunny as if spring was here. I have taken advantage of the warmth, taking my mid-morning hot chocolate outside and sitting on the bench at the end of our garden. I haven’t sat for long, soon seeing something that would benefit from a bit of attention. The tomato seedlings are more advanced than last year, another indication winter has, so far, been a mild one. All of this advanced flowering and growth leaves me concerned as to how plants and trees, in general, will cope if the weather turns and we have hard frosts, or even snow.

On Tuesday afternoon, I went to the first Gardening Club meeting of the year. The speaker, Lyn Shannon, came from the Norfolk Lavender Centre, near Heacham. She gave us an insight into how the centre started and evolved into today’s tourist attraction. At the centre you have the opportunity to buy lavender products, take a guided tour, buy plants, enjoy refreshments at the tea room and, for the children, visit the play park and animal gardens. Although a definite promotion, to encourage us to visit, rather than an insight into lavender cultivation and growing, I did learn the French lavender varieties are not hardy and should be taken into a greenhouse or similar during winter, and cutting back our plants after flowering, I have been doing the right thing.