Actually drying laundry on the line in the garden for the first time since November. First crocus in flower in our doorway, joining the snowdrops and hellebores.
Back at work so oblivious to weather on 3 various 10/11 hour days per week. Am waiting on washing machine as I read and type 🤣but sadly I don’t think today is a dry laundry 🧺 outdoors kind of day. I eagerly await the return of drying outdoors. Xxx
Everything still bare and brown, but green shoots everywhere- no snowdrops yet but won’t be long. Noticed the light returning - curtains open until 5.00 pm this week. Weather is being very weathery - frosts and sunshine, wind and rain.
A seasonal week of preserving sunshine, Seville Oranges made marmalade, Amalfi Lemons made curd, and a good clear out of my fruit draw in the fridge made jars of golden oopsie jam!
The first snowdrops of the year, seen in a garden in Derbyshire. Tidied my potting bench from all the winter accumulation of ‘put it down somewhere’, and set the taters to start chitting. The year is starting!
Wrapped up and sipped coffee beside the lake at Winterbourne gardens. Clear blue sky, snowdrops, and the Winter shrubs sharing their scent. Witch hazel is so beautiful.
I was there on Wednesday Wendy 🙂 aren't the witch hazels just stunning? What did you think of the kokedama in the nut walk? They certainly looked striking but I'm not sure about them with snowdrops.
Planting garlic in pots from saved garlic bulbs that have been survivors in my heavy clay soil. I will transplant them in March when hopefully most of the heaviest of the rain has passed.
We visited Seaton Delaval Hall yesterday on a gloriously bright but icily cold morning. Bright Phoebus had us in his thrall, glittering on the magnificent stonework, the cobalt sea on the near horizon and pouring through the statuesque, elegant trees in the grounds. Snowdrops were pushing through the soil and the light, warmth and promise of a North Eastern Spring was truly in the air ✨
Spring green tri-cornered leek carpeting bare brown mud. Daffodil shoots erupting through grass. Excitable squirrels and chattering birds - everywhere. Proclaiming daily: "Oooh. It's 5pm and there's still light in the sky". A world waking up.
It's really interesting to read these replies and the difference in the growth stages of various plants. Presumably regional variation?
So glad to hear you’ve moved back in Lia - I can only imagine how that must have felt after so long. Not easy living with family for that long. My news is - I am back home in Wooler! Yes after nearly a year of not being able to travel because of my cancer treatment we climbed in the car and set off through Storm Eowyn to drive 8 hours to Northumberland. Pure bliss to be here - saw honking geese arriving over the valley, snowdrops everywhere just budding, early morning birdsong and still snow on the Cheviots.
On the morning of the day of the new moon, I was out in the garden and heard honking from the sky. Expecting to see geese, I was amazed to see swans! There were four of them in a V, and they were singing as they flew, so I guess they were whoopers (rare round here) rather than the usual mutes (more common). So beautiful and auspicious...
Finally getting to see the planets on parade after clouds blocking the evening sky meaning I missed Venus, but to see them all at once is wonderful.
Actually drying laundry on the line in the garden for the first time since November. First crocus in flower in our doorway, joining the snowdrops and hellebores.
Me too, felt ridiculously good.
Oh yes. I was so happy hanging some washing out yesterday.
Back at work so oblivious to weather on 3 various 10/11 hour days per week. Am waiting on washing machine as I read and type 🤣but sadly I don’t think today is a dry laundry 🧺 outdoors kind of day. I eagerly await the return of drying outdoors. Xxx
Everything still bare and brown, but green shoots everywhere- no snowdrops yet but won’t be long. Noticed the light returning - curtains open until 5.00 pm this week. Weather is being very weathery - frosts and sunshine, wind and rain.
A seasonal week of preserving sunshine, Seville Oranges made marmalade, Amalfi Lemons made curd, and a good clear out of my fruit draw in the fridge made jars of golden oopsie jam!
The days are definitely getting longer and the shoots from bulbs are making the ground look alive again which is so exciting and hopeful.
A frost last night reminds me not to get too excited 😆
The first snowdrops of the year, seen in a garden in Derbyshire. Tidied my potting bench from all the winter accumulation of ‘put it down somewhere’, and set the taters to start chitting. The year is starting!
A beautiful sunny and cold day showed the first very small patch of violets flowering in a local wood.
Thanks for the cue to head to the canal where the violets bloom 💙
Waking to Blackbirds singing just before my alarm goes off at 7
Wrapped up and sipped coffee beside the lake at Winterbourne gardens. Clear blue sky, snowdrops, and the Winter shrubs sharing their scent. Witch hazel is so beautiful.
I was there on Wednesday Wendy 🙂 aren't the witch hazels just stunning? What did you think of the kokedama in the nut walk? They certainly looked striking but I'm not sure about them with snowdrops.
It's one of my favourite places! Total escape in the middle of the city. I know what you mean about the kokedama - I wanted to like them more!
Just had to look up what a kokedame is… 😄
I went to Winterbourne for the first time last February, after decades of just travelling past it. Beautiful. Xx
It really is a treasure.
Plum blossom on Tottenham Marsh endless blue sky, snowdrops and puddles.
Planting garlic in pots from saved garlic bulbs that have been survivors in my heavy clay soil. I will transplant them in March when hopefully most of the heaviest of the rain has passed.
We visited Seaton Delaval Hall yesterday on a gloriously bright but icily cold morning. Bright Phoebus had us in his thrall, glittering on the magnificent stonework, the cobalt sea on the near horizon and pouring through the statuesque, elegant trees in the grounds. Snowdrops were pushing through the soil and the light, warmth and promise of a North Eastern Spring was truly in the air ✨
Spring green tri-cornered leek carpeting bare brown mud. Daffodil shoots erupting through grass. Excitable squirrels and chattering birds - everywhere. Proclaiming daily: "Oooh. It's 5pm and there's still light in the sky". A world waking up.
It's really interesting to read these replies and the difference in the growth stages of various plants. Presumably regional variation?
So glad to hear you’ve moved back in Lia - I can only imagine how that must have felt after so long. Not easy living with family for that long. My news is - I am back home in Wooler! Yes after nearly a year of not being able to travel because of my cancer treatment we climbed in the car and set off through Storm Eowyn to drive 8 hours to Northumberland. Pure bliss to be here - saw honking geese arriving over the valley, snowdrops everywhere just budding, early morning birdsong and still snow on the Cheviots.
Glad to hear your getting back to your usual routines after your treatment 🌺
So happy to hear this Sue!
On the morning of the day of the new moon, I was out in the garden and heard honking from the sky. Expecting to see geese, I was amazed to see swans! There were four of them in a V, and they were singing as they flew, so I guess they were whoopers (rare round here) rather than the usual mutes (more common). So beautiful and auspicious...
Finally getting to see the planets on parade after clouds blocking the evening sky meaning I missed Venus, but to see them all at once is wonderful.
Garden now suffused with the intoxicating scent of Daphne bholua and Sarcococca (which I can never spell correctly without looking it up).
The geese were flying yesterday, solid V's and twirling clouds of them like hair in the wind. Dare I start hoping they feel spring coming?