It was a full on week getting everything ready for the nursery opening on 5th March last week. On Wednesday Isobel was working and she worked through plants in the covered area to go into sales while I sorted out the huge tree and shrub delivery and put it all out in the sales area. I also finished off filling the wee shop, we can now move about the office a bit easier too with a lot of the boxes emptied. In the evening David brought pizza to the nursery for tea before heading home and I headed off to Elsrickle to do a talk tonight for the WI which was very well received. I talked about the creation of the nursery and gardens over the nearly 7 years we have been at Whitmuir creating Quercus. Tea and cake and chat afterwards before heading home after a long day.
On Thursday I had two members of staff in, its quite a thing having staff and folk working for and with me. I have such a great group at the moment who are good fun, great to chat to, keen to learn and good workers. Sam got on with tidying plants for the sales area while Isobel started tidying the herb garden. I am determined we will get the garden spring clean finished sooner or later. I got the new pots for the scented garden planted up, orders sorted and I made a start on emptying the shade tunnel of the plants stored there for winter so we can fill it up with plants for sale.
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| When you come home from work to find the floor littered with onion skins and the fluff off skinned tennis balls you know a small mouse dog's work is done ........... |
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| Colourful sales tables |
The sales area was finally ready for opening, thanks to Sam, Isobel and David who helped to get the place looking amazing 
We were so excited to be opening and the weather was great too. Junkshopantiques Viki had her sale on in the old shop. I have also updated our website pages with all the trees, shrubs, conifers, climbers and bamboos we now have in stock. Big pots haven't arrived yet but we have compost and lots of smaller pots, garden sundries, string, ornaments and so much more.
We were so excited to be opening and the weather was great too. Junkshopantiques Viki had her sale on in the old shop. I have also updated our website pages with all the trees, shrubs, conifers, climbers and bamboos we now have in stock. Big pots haven't arrived yet but we have compost and lots of smaller pots, garden sundries, string, ornaments and so much more.
What a gorgeous spring day it was when we opened on Saturday. Thank you to everyone who visited the nursery today on our first day open this year. It was lovely to catch up with everyone 
Between us Viki and I filled the carpark all day, it was lovely to see both businesses so busy 
Thank you so much
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| Helleborus nigre |
Its exhausting learning to be a nursery dog and meeting your public when they come into the nursery and ask for you. Then home to give your owners the sideways look because they wont share their chinese takeaway with you. So instead you finish skinning your tennis ball and what ever you can get your evil little puppy teeth on.
Another fabulous day on Sunday it was lovely to see lots of customers and catch up with many of you. Thank you everyone who came out to the nursery this weekend and to Junkshopantiques. The weather was gorgeous again, though -5c last night, brrrrrrrr!
it was lovely to see lots of customers and catch up with many of you. Thank you everyone who came out to the nursery this weekend and to Junkshopantiques. The weather was gorgeous again, though -5c last night, brrrrrrrr! We will be open again on Wednesday and our usual hours of Wed to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
This week we will hopefully finish tidying the nursery gardens and get on with lots of propagation in the tunnels.
Thanks
Ps. Photo is Crocus 'Pickwick', one of my favourites.
I'm really missing my painting, but its been such a full on week, I'm tired when I get home and loads to do there after a full on day at the nursery. I really enjoyed it for relaxing as well as being creative. Maybe next week.
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| annual seeds are sprouting |
Monday was another beautiful spring day with endless blue sky and warmth. Having said that it was very frosty again, -5C when I got in the car at 8am, brrrrrrrrr. A day in the poly tunnel always makes me feel much more relaxed and happy, especially after a busy weekend. Pottering away in my own wee world listening to podcasts while I work through plants, tidying, propagating and sorting plants to go over to the sales area. Today I was sorting through the alpines and got about half of them done, which was a good days work, which when I think about it is 30 trays of 18 plants. Must have been the bowl of porridge for breakfast that helped! 
Hebe Popwellii has obliged me with some ready rooted pieces of stem which I potted, never waste plant material that can be propagated. All the annual seeds I sowed two weeks ago are germinating and the blue sky was stunning, The bird song is louder and there is that indefinable feel of spring, a change in the air, and being able to shed two jackets
Hebe Popwellii has obliged me with some ready rooted pieces of stem which I potted, never waste plant material that can be propagated. All the annual seeds I sowed two weeks ago are germinating and the blue sky was stunning, The bird song is louder and there is that indefinable feel of spring, a change in the air, and being able to shed two jackets 
In the nursery garden this week
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| Corylus avellana 'Contorta' |
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| Helleborus nigre |
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| Helleborus 'Pink Lady' |
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| Primula 'Gigha' |
Busy day off on Tuesday 🙄 We went and picked up our heather order for the nursery in north Fife and then swung round by Cambo on the way home for some lunch and a walk around the gardens. Maisie had a great time and was spoiled rotten with dog treats and attention in the cafe and gardens. It was a beautiful sunny day but bitterly cold so we didn't linger long on the beach before retreating back into the woodland walk for some shelter. Bit too late for the snowdrops but still nice to wander round. Great friendly staff both in the gardens, shop and cafe and all very dog friendly. Although its a two hour trip from home its a great place to visit I might have purchased some plants, not sure how that happened Home via the nursery to drop off the heathers and Peebles for food shopping. A long day but nice to get out and about.
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| Pushkinia at Cambo |
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| The winter garden, Cambo |
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| Maisie |
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Oh, I'd love to see Cambo. Looks like you have a very similar weather to us, gorgeous sunny bright days but also bright nights with -5 frost.
ReplyDeleteLoving the large flowering Hamamelis, which ones are they?
Hi Saila, Cambo is amazing for snowdrops in February and in summer for the beautifully planted walled garden, nice cafe too. We've had more windy wet weather this week but the rest of the week is to be sunny and warmer, cant wait! The Hamamellis is Hamamelis 'Arnold Promise', a lovely yellow and very scented.
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