Trouble in Paradise

Surely this site, an orchard in the country, is paradise for bees? You might expect them to be grateful. They buzz and hum happily about my garden as we go about our work together but it is a different story next door where they have now stung my neighbour on three occasions. So the image above is history, the beehives have been relocated further afield, into an adjoining field actually, where we hope they will cause no more trouble and upset. If they don't improve their manners it will be back to the inner city allotments from whence they came!

Other neighbours saw a couple of suspicious looking youths who had parked a large van in a lay-by down the road from our village. They took down the registration number when they saw the youths pick up a  long range rifle that they had put on the ground when they were aware of being watched. Our neighbours called at the gamekeeper's house and gave him the van number. He told them that there is a lot of trouble at the moment with poachers.

We are concerned that deer might be badly shot but not killed outright and also, since we all walk everyday through the woods with our dogs, the worry that we might also be hit.

 

But in my garden all is serene. I love it when the rows (why are mine always rather wobbly?) of vegetables first appear.

Chives edge the roots bed. Hopefully they will keep the carrot flies away.


Every house in the village has a well in the garden, all redundant now as we are on mains water.

The herbaceous borders are lush with new green growth, very little colour as yet, but it all promises.