March began on a very chilly note after the benign and exceptionally dry February. Grey skies with a bit of broken sunshine until things improved around lunchtime and an East/North Easterly wind meant it wasn’t a day for lingering outside. We took a day off to go on a WHSH snowdrop visit, the first in 3 years, and stopped off at Aberglasney which was looking in immaculate condition but we were really surprised to find ourselves almost the only people enjoying a St. David’s day lunch in the bright sunshine.
March 2nd was a glorious, though chilly day at Gelli, perfect for some garden visitors, and with the sun out, the bees took the chance to forage throughout the garden once early frost had cleared. The garden has never looked as good as this year throughout February, but the forecast for lower temperatures means we’re probably in for a bit of a hiatus now.
The weather then stayed decidedly chilly, completely overcast and with the wind chill factor, there were several days when no bees were seen around the garden. Daffodils are now following snowdrops with being late to open. Thank goodness for N. ‘Rjinveld’s Early Sensation’. However the spring bulbs, even under grey skies continue to provide much interest, although Crocus never have the same impact with their petals closed.
A few nights away coincided with more rain, and then as temperatures fell further, sleet and snow. Our first N. ‘February Gold’ only emerged on March 11th, so the garden was a little in stasis with daffodils later than in many recent years.
The middle and second half of the month were very disappointing with only 1 day without rain, a monthly total of 331.6mm which was roughly 10X February’s total, and consistently gloomy grey skies. Compare the PV inverter total for the month, 187 KWH, which was less than February 2023, 188 KWH, in spite of more days, longer days, and a sun very much higher in the sky throughout the month.
Even more indicative of how the weather is oscillating dramatically, is this month had half the solar radiation that we experienced in March 2022 – 367 KWH.
It looks like becoming one of the gloomiest Marchs since records began in Wales. All of this meant photo opportunities were very limited, and it wasn’t until the end of the month, that more daffodils started to emerge.
Only one sunrise was witnessed, but in a positive note, all the wet weather meant it was a great time for moving snowdrops “in the green”, and I discovered the wonderful Pottipukti way of doing this.