2026/10 - When Will Spring Arrive Syndrome (and other stuff)

 And here I am: the yearly Whenwillspringarrive-Syndrome has struck again.

At least the Narcissi bloom in Hunky Dory

My balcony garden looks a fright, and I am itching to clear the dead Pelargoniums and other sad debris of winter away, empty the planters and plant some fresh, cheerful flowering beauties in them.

But experience has taught me that it will be silly to do so (put fresh flowers in)  before at least the middle of April.

Firstly there are always spring gales. Secondly all that fresh earth will wash out of the planters. A waste of money.

Thirdly my new plants will take a battering by the cold winds, also a

     waste of money.

Yeah, yeah, the sky is blue...but that is for the first time in a fortnight. My balcony is in deep shade until 15.30...

Still. There is some compensation.

Until I can get them in their proper planter, these Cyclamen are doing their utmost to cheer me up. And I noticed my purple Clematis is showing new buds, yay!

And here you are!

Much better, eh? You can see the muck on the floor...always the case after the winter months.

I know, I know, it looks an utter mess. But I have cleared 3 planters already, carted the dead Pelargoniums to the compost heap in Hunky Dory, and will do the rest tomorrow.

Zwaartekracht 

Totally off-topic (yes folks, it is one of those blogs yet again, sorry), my book has arrived, physically.

Am I proud? I certainly am! Next Saturday, in two days time that is, I will be taking up my chair again in Hoofdstuk Een, the most wonderful bookshop of Voorne. (By the time you'll read this blogpost, that day has passed)

Where last year I was still slightly suffering from Impostors Syndrome, this year I feel totally validated. That is due to so many people telling me that I am 'actually a very good writer'. Mind you, quite a few of those sounded surprised, hahaha, those are the best! And they are even better for buying part 2 of the trilogy.

If you would like to read about that meet-and-greet, do visit my website at Renée Grashoff Schrijft , where I will tell you all the juicy stuff in the latest blog.

Santos

Off-topic as well, I visited the newly moved Fotomuseum Rotterdam, which is now housed in the old Santos warehouse at Rijnhaven. I was taken with the building, especially with those extremely sturdy wooden doors,  so took a few photos to show you.

I love that there is a cat door in that old door (middle photo). They used to store Brasilian coffee in this warehouse (shipped from the port Santos, hence the name) and apparently mice were an issue. I can see a big black and white cat in my mind's eye, prowling the 6 floors.

Right. I'll leave you with a photo of the front of my greenhouse, where the mini Narcisii are blooming amongst the fresh Fennel now. Better gardening times are coming!

Have a lovely week, wherever you are!

Renée Grashoff