In the garden in February – By Jane Follis

Now here was me thinking (at the time of writing) that the weather was beginning to pick up and we were well on the way to spring. What a shame to hear we are likely to get Baltic weather, including snow, next week.
It was such a delight last weekend to get into the vegetable patch and dig over some more beds in preparation for planting. I managed to sow my sweet peas and tomatoes which now have pride of place in my office. The broad beans, sown in December are just beginning to poke through and the snow drops are out. No small wonder I was living with false hopes?

The Spring 2009 Bulb Catalogue came through this week. I know I have spoken to quite a number of you about Gladiolus callianthus and now is the time to let me know if you want me to order them for you. This is the most astonishing plant ? flowering late in the summer and lasting almost through to the first frost. It is a delightful creamy white, with a deep purplish centre, but its beauty lies in the longevity of flowering and the most amazing scent. My mother grew them in pots outside her back door and mine were just outside the office, giving off the most delicious smells. They have flowers resembling tumbling water with as many as 8-10 per stem. The cost is