Living and Gardening in Brittany

      This morning I pruned two Japonica bushes. A friend has just called round to give me three rose bushes. The forecast for tomorrow is good so I hope to plant them.   Two Charlie Chaplin Roses Paul's Himalayan Musk New last year

I made a resolution last Friday to walk everyday. I have tried to walk a little longer each day. I prefer to make a circuit rather than return by the same route but it can work against one. My aim today was to complete an hour. But the route I had chosen took me over one and a half hours. I must make an effort to turn back after half an hour because I think an hours walking is enough. Not the ones I saw but last years tulips in my garden  I miss my camera. I saw two tulips in flower and a lovely coloured sculpture of a cockerel.  This is not the sculpture but a photo of one of my paintings. I returned home and cooked a meal then slept for two hours. Now that is not catching up on my gardening jobs

For  last few days it has snowed. Fortunately before the snow we had a day of strong wind and sunshine so I took the opportunity to cut as much grass as I could. What a relief that was as it was really long. I also planted the roses I was given by a friend. I received a plant catalogue in the post. I am tempted to order 15 Glaïel d'Abysinie (Abyssinian Gladioli?) and 25 bulbs Plumes du Kansas (Kansas Feathers?).  Also a collection of 50 assorted plants. Perhaps if I plant loads of things then they will crowd out the damn buttercups. Glaïel d'Abysinie I think the above is correctly titled. I grew them last year from bulbs which I bought in a pack from Lidl Still no camera. So frustrating. Luckily the flowers crocuses and primroses and daffodils are flowering without being photographed.

So - bright sunshine today and I even saw a butterfly. It's days like this that renew my enthusiasm in gardening. As usual my resolutions were broken but I did do a lot of clearing up. It was a joy to be out there and I swear I could see flowers opening in front of me.  I always forget what is planted where and then there are always the clever ones that have somehow transplanted themselves to unusual spots.  There is a clematis showing leaf buds and a red Camellia almost in full flower and a pink one just waiting to burst out. This was taken in 2006. They are twice as tall now. There are lots of crocus and of course the daffodils are all in bud. The tulips are beginning to peep out. All this has renewed my determination to wage war on the buttercups.

I have decide to continue writing as the Winter has been foul as regards the garden and weather. Maybe if I talk to myself here I can alleviate my frustration at not being able to do all my winter projects. In the last couple of days I decided to give up on trying to remove the damned buttercups and get on with more rewarding jobs; So everyday I aim to tackle the following:-    a) dig out for one flag (making a terrace)    b) put one barrow load of manure on new flower bed    c) Fill one plastic bag (large) with leaves    d) remove dead reeds in the gravel garden I really wanted to take some photos of the progress and of the emerging spring flowers which have renewed my faith in gardening but I can't find the s--ing camera. So this is from last year