This one's for you, Diane!

This post is dedicated to my gardening friend, Diane, from Thorsby, Alberta.  I'm sure she's already leafing through this year's seed catalogues and deciding what to plant in the upcoming year!

Now, the difference between gardening in Canada and England is like the difference between chalk and cheese. In Canada, the gardening season starts at the end of May. Really serious gardeners don't plant out until the first full moon in June which can be anytime in the first two weeks of June. By the end of September, the garden is put to sleep for the winter months, gets covered in several feet of snow and is not seen until the following April. In England, the gardening season is basically year round except maybe for a month or so in January!

Last week I was invited to lunch by two family friends:
                               

         

George, a lovely young Scotsman of 95 years,

and:

Jozia, his Polish wife

We went to the Trowell Garden Centre :

Lots of tropical foliage, orchids and anthuriums

A restaurant that served yummy food:

Spinach and Stilton Quiche -delish!!

I could have eaten ALL of it, it was sooo good but I restrained myself!

We had a good visit and then wandered around the centre:

Lots of different garden statuary, love the gorilla!

I'd love to take this little guy home! We bonded instantly!

The copper lion was spectacular and cost a small fortune!

Clementine oranges, growing inside, I was tempted to pick one!

But look what was outside:

Primroses and pansies: 

All ready to be planted out!

Hyacinth bulbs in all hues

More primroses

Snowdrops, the first flowers of spring 

I couldn't believe these were already beginning to sprout , so...

When I got home, I thought I'd check the garden and look what I found:

Snowdrops AND crocuses! Aren't you guys (and Diane) jealous?!!

Thank you George and Jozia for a lovely visit, I really enjoyed myself. 

Now someone please tell me why:

So true!!

Talk soon

Zoe