British Summer Time has Arrived!!!

Well the clocks went forward on Easter Sunday morning and spring is here, but the weather remains extremely cold.  The only blessing is that this week the sky has been blue and if out of the wind the temperature has been quite pleasant.  In fact, although this morning it was cold at the front of Phoenix Court (as the wind was a northerly one), at the back the temperature was reaching the dizzy tropical heights of 9C degrees.  Scarbados indeed!

This still hasn't helped the bulbs that I planted at the end of last summer.

Green shoots 

Slightly browning shoots

They optimistically pushed green shoots through several weeks ago but no flowers have followed and in some cases now the shoots are turning slightly brown.

Daisies

The only plants that do seem to be thriving are the daisies that I 
planted in my wildlife beds last summer.

As you can see from these photos, it is indeed sunny but there's obviously not been enough warmth to generate flowers.  It might not be too late, so fingers crossed.  You will see from these photos that they were taken when it was bright and sunny.

Next week, the forecast is predicted to be warmer, if wetter.  This will be good as we haven't had any rain for quite a while now and tubs and beds are getting quite dry.  This can't have helped the flowering process either.   

The really said thing about the extended cold weather (and obviously the main reason for my planting) is the effect on wildlife.  The puffin, kittiwake and guillemot populations has been devastated as they head for land at the start of their breeding season.  Here is a link to a BBC report on this subject http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-21999947

There is also concern about several species of butterflies who have been suffering over several years now and had a terrible year in 2012 because of the wet weather.  Now, with spring being delayed and fewer flowering plants than you would expect, they are having a bad start to 2013.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21939189

Needless to say as soon as things start to perk up I will be trying my best again to extend the range of butterfly and bee friendly plants that I can grow around Phoenix Court.  So more news will follow.