Spring assessment

With the beginning of Spring we have to make time to assess the state of the nursery and this includes our pot and containers. It is surprising thinking back to how mild the Winter was just how much damage was done. This I suspect was as much to do with the wet as with the cold. Record rainfall in December seems to have worked its way into all manner of places which we normally expect to be resistant. Like, for example the rim of this venerable pot, that has stood outside for years through winters much colder, but in retrospect, drier. It is after all the inclusion of water in ceramic pots and bricks that causes the damage when it freezes, if the pot is dry no low temperature will make it crack, it is only the freezing of water that does that. Interestingly water is unusual, being the only liquid at room temperature which expands upon freezing. All the others contract.

This wet followed by lo temperatures seems to have had an adverse affect upon our Winter green species as well. They seem to have suffered more than any of the other species we have with the exception of Green Winged orchids. The Green Winged orchids would appear, least ways at the moment, to be sulking. They are very definitely being very slow, especially since by now they should be well on their way. We will have to wait and see how they turnout along with the Winter green species.