Snowdrops have appeared and trembled in the cold easterly wind, the snow has been and gone and now is the time for Spring loveliness to begin to appear in the Blackthorn Garden. Occasionally the grey skies give way to bright blue, with clouds that race across the sky on the wind. The Sun makes a fleeting appearance and begins to warm the cold earth. Green shoots can be seen pushing up across the garden and promise bright yellow daffodils very soon. Buds on trees are beginning to swell and soon tight green leaves will unfurl. The gardeners are bustling about their jobs with seeds to sow, ground to dig and new life to begin in the garden. Although they are still protesting about the cold in the air they rush into the café to warm themselves with a hot bowl of soup or a dish of spicy chilli.

The aroma from the kitchen is changing from the earthiness of winter roots to the fresh new scents of spring vegetables. Purple sprouting broccoli will soon start to arrive in the garden along with bright green spinach leaves and the new season’s rhubarb. The bakery is in full swing with orders for bread coming thick and fast as word is spreading about how wonderful our bread is. Bright, clear marmalade, handmade from Seville oranges is ready and waiting on the shelves in the café. It will make a mouth watering breakfast slathered on our toasted granary bread. It will soon be joined by our deliciously different rhubarb jam.

The Greenhouse is packed full of brightly coloured primulas and potted bulbs waiting to be made into Mothers Day gift baskets or sold to keen gardeners who have a desire for a splash of early colour in their garden. Preparations are under way for our first Spring Fair on the 27th March which promises to be a colourful and magical affair with juggling, children and spring flowers. A brilliant and lovely start to Spring in the Blackthorn Garden.