Winter has arrived.
In 2010/11 Winter arrived early in the U.K. by December the whole Country was covered in deep snow, with temperatures down to minus 20 centigrade. This year the weather has been totally different, in December the average temperature was plus 10 centigrade. Now in the first week of February the wind is coming direct from Siberia, bringing with it not only temperatures way below freezing, but also the first snow of the Winter.
During January we have been very busy filling our cold stores with bulbs for the coming year, at the moment they contain nearly 250,000 bulbs. Next week the first shiippments are due to go out, firstly they are despatched to warmer Countries such as Spain, Italy, Taiwan and Australia, then in a week or so to U.K. customers (if the snow goes), after which it's Scandanavia and Russia's turn.
Happy new year
It's been a while since i've found time to update this blog. We are now half way through the Winter in the U.K. and what different Weather we have had, In December 2010 the whole Country was covered in thick snow with temperatures down to minus -15oC, we even got snowed in on the Nursery. Last December you would think that we had moved Country, no snow and temperatures up to plus 15oC. It is now early January and the first shoots on our Martagon Lilies are starting to emerge, this is about 4 weeks earlier than normal, but as long as we don't get any very severe frosts they will be fine. Our new website has now been up and running for nearly 4 months, apart from a few with 'Counties' in the U.K. it has been performing brilliantly and over the coming months many new features will be added.
15/10/2011
It is now nearly 2 months since our new site went 'Live', it's amazing how time passes when you are busy. During this time we have completed our last 3 shows, plus sent out most of our orders for Tulip and Martagon bulbs.Talking of Martagons, this year we imported a range of hybrids from Canada, they have proved to be a big hit with our customers, some sold out within days of me putting them online. Included in the bulbs from Canada was an old 'Heritage variety' called Brocade. (picture alongside). This variety was actually bred in the U.K. by Mrs Backhouse, it seems weird that the only source, of a variety bred in this Country is Canada !.
17/08/2011
Finally after our busiest show ever I have time to do some other jobs, like tidying the Nursery, getting ready for The Wisley Flower Show and adding varieties to this website. The first one is an ongoing project, while second one is almost is completed, as for the web It will never be finished, this weekend I plan to add 20 more Martagon hybrids. after that it will be more new varieties, so please keep coming back, as you never now what will appear !