#Heale Veg a go go

Amazing weather we are having right now, warm for April some say. I think we always seem to get drawn into thinking Summer is here and then-bam-it turns cold again. Every year I tell myself that and every year I get excited with the warmth and get my sandals out!

All this heat has brought everything on. The Greenhouse was over 30 deg on Thursday at Heale and HG took time to cool glass it all to keep the temperature down. It sure does help. A solution which looks white and goes on with water. It dries on the glass and doesn't get washed off with the rain. Yet, when you want it gone, you just wash it off with water. Cool - literally.

Potting on, pricking out, plant Jenga goes on. This week, Tomatoes were potted into their 10 litre final homes and tied into canes. Some Chillies have also been re-housed.

Planting into the veg garden we are experimenting with our Cucumbers and getting them out early under cloche. We planted more Salad and a purple leaf - Perilla -which oddly tastes of Cumin. We shall see what it ends up like. It looks like a Basil and is rather floppy when handled.

When in the veg garden, it is really easy to be head down and you can forget about the wider context of the garden. Across towards the Japanese garden, the view right now is glorious. Blossoms are out, Tulips up, grass growing and Birds darting and Bees buzzing about. The Ducks are sometimes sitting near me having a rest, whilst I work, taking a break from their nests.

Trees come into their own this time of year. Fat buds waiting to burst before leaf unfurls. One I noticed as I walked by yesterday was the Norway Maple 'Crimson King' which has a pretty yellow and red at the moment.

Amalanchiers sit across the River and look very delicate in flower, I was drawn to these.

Some of the long grass in the garden has a short path cut into it, my favorite type of grass cutting! I love this meadow style. Something from my childhood I think walking across fields for much of my youth.

How could I forget to mention that we had a visit from the West Dean Gardeners this week! Sarah and Jim and very nice it was to meet them in the flesh too. Twitter has the amazing ability of bringing people together.

I worked for another client this week and was in her Greenhouse the whole time. Potting up, pricking out, tidying, watering, sorting. Heaven.

I am off to see a different type of garden this week. I go to the Amalfi coast and take a break from Wiltshire soil. I am hoping to make it to Capri to see a garden in Anacapri atop a hill with views out to sea. And the Sorrento lemon groves too.

Will keep you posted. Happy gardening all.