What to do with my granddaughters, Julie, 3, and Emma, 2, on a snowy day when it is really a little too slippery and messy to play outside: how about a fun gardening project.
We decided to make a bright spring container for the porch at their house.
But first, we had to get the plants and find the right pot for the job. Which involved a quick trip to GardenWorks, our local garden centre.
Julie had fun looking at the pots. But we very quickly decided on a nice display containing a mix of blue irises (Iris reticulata) and dwarf narcissus with a lemon cypress at the centre.
Back home, we prepared the pot by first pouring in some gravel to ensure good drainage.
Then we added some Seasoil to fill the container. Julie and Emma patted the soil into place to make sure it was firm and level.
Next, Julie dug a hole with her little trowel in the centre and planted the lemon cypress.
Emma made a small hole next and popped in the first of three pots of dwarf narcissus.
Then Julie popped in a pot of blue dwarf irises. Emma did another dwarf narcissus and Julie added more irises.
When the planting was finished, they gave a big cheer. It looked terrific.
There was only one thing left to add – a quirky yellow-capped gnome, just for fun. His cap went well with the flowers and also with the yellow/chartreuse colour of the pot.
This was the first garden project the girls have done together this year. It is early to be gardening but perfect time to put in a cheerful container of primula or winter pansies or, what they did, a mix of irises and dwarf daffodils.
As for me, when they left, I got down to filling a window box outside the kitchen with a lovely mix of pansies.
All in all, it has been a very good day in the garden.
