It may be still incredibly cold and wintry outside, but the calendar doesn't lie - we're into the second half of February, and that means that wildlife gardening is about to get very exciting indeed!
The big job looming, for those who like the challenge, is to start planting seeds indoors. I still find that it feels really premature to be thinking of this while snows are still falling and ponds keep freezing over, but if you wait until it feels springlike you'll be weeks behind.
The first job, of course, is to choose and buy your seeds. Here are some of the packets I've already bought this year. I love the fact that inside each are hundreds of little grains of potential, primed and waiting for warmth and moisture, pre-programmed to turn into beautiful blooms.
Some are old favourites I've tried before, had success with, and adore, such as the Nicotiana sylvestris (with its exotic scent that draws in hawkmoths), and the Californian Poppy (Latin name Eschscholzia - what a name with two 'sch's after each other!) which is good for hoverflies.
Meanwhile some are plants I've seen in other people's gardens which I know to be good for particular creatures, such as the Echium Blue Bedder which is a magnet for Honeybees.
But Rudbeckia Toto Gold is going to be a bit of an experiment. There are plenty of Rudbeckias that I've seen being enjoyed by Honeybees, but will this dwarf variety that only grows 12 inches high cut the mustard? Only time will tell.
I've managed to pick up several packets of seeds at half price from garden centres in the past couple of weeks, which is great value when even full-price most are only two quid or so. And for rarer species I turn to Chiltern Seeds, an excellent internet company. With them, you don't get the glossy packet and detailed planting instructions, but their range is huge.
Even writing about it I'm getting all fired up with expectation. I hope you're feeling it too!
I love this time of year, my seed packets are lined up in planting dates, the first hardy seedlings have already germinated and are growing well.
I’ve got some new varieties this year (recommended in earlier blogs) so it will be interesting to see the results.