We’ve had a few days of sun, and it really shows!

Winter is long, and spring takes its time to reach these northern climes. And while I may be jealous of the colour already adorning other gardens, it is very exciting to see the first signs start to emerge. There must be double, if not triple the number of sprouting bulbs there were on Sunday.

Time is different in the garden. You experience the seasons so much more acutely, intimately. In slow motion, and yet over in an instant. Like a slow motion time-lapse.

Tulips? Alliums? Surprise bulbs popping up everywhere! Last spring we were still building the garden beds, so they were but mounds of dirt and imagination. This year I’m really looking forward to having them filled with spring colour.

It feels decadent to have hyacinths in the landscape. They’re from last year’s containers, and I’m so excited to see them coming back, because they’re just gorgeous.

There are loads of crocus coming up, which is a relief because I thought this bed got a lot more sun in the morning than it actually does! Now I’m hopeful it will be ok, just a bit delayed.

The other thing the garden does to time is invite you consider a longer scale, to reach to the future and plan for it to be beautiful. This acer palmatum Sango Kaku, the coral bark maple, will one day be 15-25ft of tree! For now its bright branches are full of bright hope.

The light has already stretched beyond 5pm, so there is time to enjoy the garden after work. We have many treasured long afternoons ahead.