Wednesday 28 April 2021

At last!

It rained steadily through the night and has continued gently throughout the whole day. What a relief after many weeks of dry weather and cold winds. My seven water butts and four half barrels were all emptied of rainwater, quite unusual for Blighty!  Dusty roof panels are now cleaned and everything looks refreshed. It is a good year for blossom, I think that much of it has set, so today's rain is timely.











The pond level has sunk and the birds walk about in the marshy ground and pull at the moss.




















































Some of the veg planting is pushing through the ground but most of the plants are still inside waiting for more reliable weather. I'm playing safe and keeping my peas under the cloches. Only the toughies, like these broad beans,  are unprotected.





















I can never grow enough rhubarb. (But look at all the evil ground elder - no problem growing that!)














The tulips that didn't get battered  by the wind have been really good this year.















Oranges are slowly ripening in the greenhouse










and the roof beams are dripping with the China tea rose, Maricel Niel.











Soon we shall be able to socialise once more. I've had my hair cut in anticipation, three inches or so chopped off, not cut since last summer. 

Life feels good!



Wednesday 14 April 2021

Blackthorn weather..

 At this time of year the greenhouses are crammed with plants as I wait for the weather to warm up enough for me to put them outside. Some of them are getting rather leggy. Like the seedlings, I'm happy to be tucked up under glass to enjoy the sun without any accompanying chilling wind. We haven't had rain for quite a while and the fruit trees are all in blossom. We had yet another delivery of wood this week and the woodman described it as 'blackthorn weather'. I'd not heard this expression before. He told me that when the blackthorn is absolutely full of white blossom, as it is just now, it is the result of a wet winter followed by a cold spring.

There is an electric pump in the greenhouse water trough that makes a pleasant tinkling sound as I sit and soak up the warmth.






The auricles are coming into flower, while outside the glass the pots of tulips are taking a bit of a bashing!






Friday 2 April 2021

Happy Easter

                                          Wishing you a 

                VERY HAPPY EASTER