There’s much talk about New Year’s resolutions, but pushing for a fresh start when the ground is solid and the animals are deep in hibernation can make one feel a little out of sorts. Just as burrowing animals slowly bed down for winter, us humans also need time to rest, reflect, and protect our energy as we move throughout the year, shifting and adapting alongside the natural world.

But now temperatures have at last tiptoed back up to double digits and the sun’s rays have gathered a little warmth again. The grass is getting more and more verdant. Literally, and perhaps metaphorically too.

When I glance outside, I’m greeted by glorious signs of growth, and plenty of it too. Jewel-toned tulips will light up pots and borders before we know it, with gardeners across the country - myself included - soon reaping the rewards of their long-ago planting.

‍

Moving intentionally into the new season

‍

One of my favourite things about living in the countryside is the natural closeness it brings to this beautiful seasonal change. The outdoors is intertwined with our everyday life here. We’ve found that we’re much more inclined to observe the growth and newness around us, simply because we’re fortunate to be so near to it.

‍

Whilst putting the chickens away, I’ve no choice but to notice a new patch of brave snowdrops popping up under a tree, the buds that are appearing on a tiny sapling, and more recently, a few leggy daffodils waiting patiently to open - maybe this week, maybe next.

‍

So now, as the last frosts of winter melt away and these little treasures are becoming more frequent, I find myself eagerly anticipating a fresh beginning of sorts.I know firsthand that there isn’t time to hit a complete reset with each new season (nor should we feel compelled to do so). But, I do think there’s plenty of joy to be had in celebrating the shift around us, welcoming change and possibility with it.

With that, I wanted to share some of my favourite ways to embrace the outdoor change and get ready for the season, Dear Reader.

‍

‍

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

‍

Preparing for growth

‍

The soil is warming up in the south of England, and we’ll be able to start planting hardy veg in our kitchen garden soon. Amongst the easy-to-grow staples that I’m looking to sow over the next month or so are carrots, lettuce and broad beans. All classic British veg options that require little maintenance, are plentiful without effort, and so versatile for use across multiple dishes.

‍

March will also be a month of sowing summer flowering bulbs to keep the garden full of colour and interest. As the soil is moist, it’s a good time to be out and about mulching the borders in preparation to keep pesky weeds down in the summer months. This year, I’m opting for some nice bulbs to add a bit of life to pots and borders alike; the perfect blooms for easy but impressive arrangements. The light perfume from flowers picked fresh from the garden is a wonderful natural scent diffuser in the house, too.

‍

When it comes to the lawn, it’s ever so tempting to cut it all down as we see growth in the next couple of months. However, try not to. Leaving even some of it uncut allows for beautiful native species to flower - like clover, dandelions and daisies - that will give a gorgeous natural look to the garden. You may even be lucky enough to get some patches of bluebells from the end of March onwards. Most importantly, these dainty  lawn flowers also provide a vital foodsource for our trusty pollinators, and in doing so, will help the rest of the foliage to grow.

‍

‍

Flora and fauna I’m looking out for

‍

As the years go by here, I’ve learnt when to expect certain creatures in the garden throughout the year. I start to look forward to seeing their gradual arrival. We’re lucky to have a little pond here at Mulberry House, and Spring time is the best chance for the kids to spot frogs and toads aplenty. There’s been a huge decline in the toad population over the years. Brilliant groups like the Wildlife Trust group are working hard to combat with their ‘toad patrol’ campaigns, which are truly heartwarming. It’s a rather special thing to see these little creatures metamorphose into froglets and toadlets right on our doorstep with all of that in mind.

‍

And then, for our friends a little higher above pond level. I’m always trying to improve when it comes to recognising birdcalls. Spring is a wonderful time to do this, with all the migrant birds heading for grassland and woodland nearby. The cuckoo always heralds the start of spring for me, along with the tiny chiffchaff’s distinctive ‘chiff chaff chiff chaff’ which is such a sweet and joyous sound. Birdsong naturally calms the nervous system, as they only sing when they feel safe enough to do so and our very clever bodies know this instinctively. I find myself leaving headphones at home on countryside runs now, because what could beat the sound of our feathered friends above?

‍

Dusting off the garden furniture

With the weather being much kinder to us, and all the beauty starting to emerge outside, I’ve been thinking about the best way to sit and enjoy it all. Our seating areas at Mulberry House have been through a great evolution, of which you can read about here if you need a little pergola and/or patio inspiration. We love to eat outdoors in the milder weather (and bundled up in the cooler too). If we can host an occasion outside, we certainly will. Luckily, my good friend Ambrice at Relic Interiors has created the most incredible set of furniture that completes our dining area. I may be biased but I truly couldn’t recommend it enough. All the details are in the blog linked just a few sentences above. I really do encourage you to consider some of Ambrice’s gorgeous pieces for durable, timeless use in your garden too.

‍

‍

Thank you for taking the time to follow my musings, Dear Reader. I hope you’ve enjoyed and I hope you have a brilliant, exciting new season, with time outdoors aplenty.

Leah

xxx