The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

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20 February 2015

Cheering up the kitchen sink & Speeding up Spring!

After 1 day indoors
After 3 days in doors!

We can get a little impatient at this time of year so I've been speeding up spring! I have been cutting Prunus twigs, arranging them in water in the kitchen and forcing the flower buds to open well ahead of their natural timing.  I know that many people smash the woody stems and leave them to stand in water in a cooler room first but, I find this also works well and the buds will open in about 3 days depending on room temperature.  Even when the flowers drop, the leaf buds will continue to open.  The same can be done with Forsythia and Horse Chestnut bubs look very dramatic when forced.  A few spring flowers in an old teapot can cheer up the kitchen sink on a dull and miserable day - and we can never have too much cheer at the sink!


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