Molly Hibbert & Victoria Bowsher

Forgive the writer(s), it is impossible not to be irritatingly cheery during this happy season. Every day feels like that scene from Snow White when the windows burst open; the flowers are out, and at least in our imaginations, the birds are twittering just for us. Some gardeners can brush off the colder weather; the wind, the rain. But none will deny that it is a much more pleasant job when the sun is shining and the plants are busy growing.

Here at Thyme, there is a flurry of action. The number of red kites seem to have doubled and a blackbird has made a nest in one of our potted Christmas trees, robustly exclaiming if anyone walks too near. Some of our recent additions to the garden are already in flower; a fast favourite is a white daffodil with a peach-coloured trumpet, narcissus ‘passionale’. It’s lovely and subtle in a way that usually daffodils are not. But we have lots of the jolly yellow variety too - the whole estate is flecked with them… there are hundreds, maybe even thousands.

In the gardener’s tea room, trays and trays of tagetes - or marigolds - have replaced the chitted potatoes (now ensconced in the ground). We eat custard creams and bourbons among the seedlings. Marigolds are arguably the best companion plant for just about everything. The scent confuses predators, and even deters rabbits. We plan to plant them under the rose bushes and with basil to protect the tomatoes in the polytunnels.

We are inundated with packets and packets of seeds and furiously sowing. In addition to our reliable favourites, we are planting a host of new varieties: kalettes, a cross between kale and Brussel sprouts; komatsuna or Japanese mustard spinach, and the bright orange Cinderella-esque pumpkin, Rouge Vif d'Etampes. On the floriferous side, there’s the gloriously-named ‘love-in-a-puff’, a climber with petite white flowers which are followed by lantern-like seed pods that hold a black seed with a heart-shaped mark, and the ‘chocolate vine’, another climber sporting bluey-green leaves and burgundy-coloured blooms. There is something exciting about sowing seeds you have never planted before; let’s hope they are as lavish as they sound. Will report back.