All of a sudden the blackthorn blossom is out! Drove past hedges of it at twilight last Tuesday and saw it smothering the branches; great clouds of tiny white flowers glowing under streetlights, almost like newly gathered snow. ☺️🤍
We lost an hour or two sitting in a hide in front of a mud bank watching a pair of kingfishers preparing their burrow. The male took frequent breaks from digging to wash his feathers before returning to work. Around them a blackthorn tree alive with blossom and garden birds and a little grebe repeatedly diving.
i visit the cemetery, the grave of my parents and brother . it is a peaceful place , well cared for . Altars of daffodils everywhere , and the red camellia blossoms .
Our wild ducks are back. A little earlier than last year so took us by surprise. Flew straight to the pond and stayed a few hours swimming around and sleeping. Been back almost every day this week. And spotted some red glimpses amongst our camellia bush so not long now till the flowers unfurl and we get the blaze of red in the garden.
The hubris of putting out the washing, confident that the haar will burn off and it'll be sunny and warm... only to bring in the washing damp and cold at the end of the day. False spring is a real phenomenon!
The days feel so much longer, and so full of possibilities. All available windowsill space is currently full with seedlings which I hope will be ready to go out once the soil has definitely warmed up out there.
The sunny weekend last week was such a welcome surprise we spent it on long dog walks finishing in the first pub garden of the year. The garden is filling up with spring bulbs and I've enjoyed spotting birds clutching twigs to build their nests
Last weekend's escape to the coast gifted starling murmurations and weather warm enough to justify the first mint choc chip of the season! Back home, and the garden is dotted with yellow - primroses and daffodils compensating for the rather grey sky. The garden, now rested, is just bursting with promise at this time of year. What a lot it has to teach us.
Alllll the weather! A sudden hail shower yesterday chasing me out of the yarden, but... we have seedlings! Just remains to be seen if they are from the seeds I planted ¦0D. Lots of lovely spring flowers out and about here too. Happy Friday folks <3
Swelling buds on the horse chestnut trees, all sticky and glorious. White clouds of damson and blackthorn bushes. A blackbird singing at dusk with the moon gathering brightness. Driving past the Hindu temple lit up for Holi with huge crowds gathering round.
We visited Winterbourne Gardens in Birmingham for the first time on Sunday. What a gorgeous place! Thank you for talking about it here Wendy (and I’m sure at least one other person) It was such a treat!
My dear husband drove me down to Dartington Hall (near Totnes, Devon) for a couple of days to celebrate my birthday. I’m 68 but it’s still nice to get away and into slightly warmer weather. The daffodils and primroses were out in profusion and the spring banks in the gardens were full of fritillaries and hellebores. Camellias were in full bloom. It’s a magical place.
So many birds in and out of bushes and the big bay tree, and my nemesis, the big fat wood pigeon who thinks he is the king of them all. Just sitting, coo hooing for hours on end.
Driving home as the full moon rose in a purple haze, a huge barn owl took flight alongside me.
All of a sudden the blackthorn blossom is out! Drove past hedges of it at twilight last Tuesday and saw it smothering the branches; great clouds of tiny white flowers glowing under streetlights, almost like newly gathered snow. ☺️🤍
How lovely :0)
We lost an hour or two sitting in a hide in front of a mud bank watching a pair of kingfishers preparing their burrow. The male took frequent breaks from digging to wash his feathers before returning to work. Around them a blackthorn tree alive with blossom and garden birds and a little grebe repeatedly diving.
that is so amazing to watch kingfishers like that, so often it's just a flash and you're not even sure you really saw one!
It really was incredible.
i visit the cemetery, the grave of my parents and brother . it is a peaceful place , well cared for . Altars of daffodils everywhere , and the red camellia blossoms .
Our wild ducks are back. A little earlier than last year so took us by surprise. Flew straight to the pond and stayed a few hours swimming around and sleeping. Been back almost every day this week. And spotted some red glimpses amongst our camellia bush so not long now till the flowers unfurl and we get the blaze of red in the garden.
The hubris of putting out the washing, confident that the haar will burn off and it'll be sunny and warm... only to bring in the washing damp and cold at the end of the day. False spring is a real phenomenon!
This exactly, so much promise in the morning sun that still leads to damp washing at teatime. And yet I will do it again tomorrow!
The days feel so much longer, and so full of possibilities. All available windowsill space is currently full with seedlings which I hope will be ready to go out once the soil has definitely warmed up out there.
The sunny weekend last week was such a welcome surprise we spent it on long dog walks finishing in the first pub garden of the year. The garden is filling up with spring bulbs and I've enjoyed spotting birds clutching twigs to build their nests
Last weekend's escape to the coast gifted starling murmurations and weather warm enough to justify the first mint choc chip of the season! Back home, and the garden is dotted with yellow - primroses and daffodils compensating for the rather grey sky. The garden, now rested, is just bursting with promise at this time of year. What a lot it has to teach us.
Yes indeed Wendy!
Alllll the weather! A sudden hail shower yesterday chasing me out of the yarden, but... we have seedlings! Just remains to be seen if they are from the seeds I planted ¦0D. Lots of lovely spring flowers out and about here too. Happy Friday folks <3
The jackdaws have chosen this year's chimney!
Glorious sun but that north wind is biting!
making the most of the evenings before the clocks change - getting a spurt on with the knitting/photo albums
I'd never thought of the clocks changing in that way before...
Swelling buds on the horse chestnut trees, all sticky and glorious. White clouds of damson and blackthorn bushes. A blackbird singing at dusk with the moon gathering brightness. Driving past the Hindu temple lit up for Holi with huge crowds gathering round.
We visited Winterbourne Gardens in Birmingham for the first time on Sunday. What a gorgeous place! Thank you for talking about it here Wendy (and I’m sure at least one other person) It was such a treat!
Oh so glad you made it Anne. It is a little piece of paradise in the city. I'm a member and go often to watch the seasonal shifts.
My dear husband drove me down to Dartington Hall (near Totnes, Devon) for a couple of days to celebrate my birthday. I’m 68 but it’s still nice to get away and into slightly warmer weather. The daffodils and primroses were out in profusion and the spring banks in the gardens were full of fritillaries and hellebores. Camellias were in full bloom. It’s a magical place.
Getting up early to see the Blood Moon eclipse and finding that Yorkshire has blanketed itself in cloud again.
Listening to the wood pigeons as I eat my breakfast - it sounds so much like they’re telling me “I don’t want coffee” that I almost reply.
So many birds in and out of bushes and the big bay tree, and my nemesis, the big fat wood pigeon who thinks he is the king of them all. Just sitting, coo hooing for hours on end.