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Gardening

Joys of Spring

(541 Posts)
bagitha Mon 09-Jan-12 16:52:36

Tramping up the hill
In the deep dusk
To shut the henhouse for the night,
I saw, even in the dim light,
Light buds on the apple tree
And, with the light of my torch,
A budding fresh greenness
At the ends of the flowering currant.
The bird cherry tree buds
Are swelling with new life
And the gorse looks sturdily leaved,
Ready to flower before too long.
If the bees have survived the winter in the chimney,
(the honey has stopped dripping),
They might come out for that.
smile

bagitha Sat 25-Feb-12 12:57:41

Well, we thought poor us as well and bought a mute, BUT she gets a really nice sound out of it smile. It has been lovely.

offered her violin because someone was selling a small one. That's when she said: I don't want to play the violin. I want to play the trumpet!

She'll have to try something else when she gets her tooth brace in about nine months' time.

jeni Sat 25-Feb-12 12:40:06

Trumpet! You poor thing. My daughter learnt at one point as well!

wotsamashedupjingl Sat 25-Feb-12 12:40:04

We had a lovely afternoon on Thursday. What is it about Thursdays? confused

wotsamashedupjingl Sat 25-Feb-12 12:39:08

That sounds so familiar Ariadne. Sunday school? Probably. It's nice.

Well, if the morning's anything to go by...... (just went to put lunchtime coffee in micro, found breakfast one still sitting there!

No wonder nothing's been done. Sigh!

bagitha Sat 25-Feb-12 12:34:33

Depends on your definition of useless, dunnit? In my stroppier moments (rare, as you all know), I'd call that sweet little verse puritanical pish. smile

Meanwhile, the seven day weather forecast at netweather says we'll get some sunshine on Thursday afternoon. That'll be nice.

Ariadne Sat 25-Feb-12 11:52:13

"So here hath been dawning
Another blue day.
Think, wilt thou let it
Slip useless away?"

Oh, probably! smile but have packed several boxes....

Greatnan Sat 25-Feb-12 10:47:10

Still lots of snow here, but I have just had my first visit from a bird - I think it was one of a pair of black-headed tits that I fed last year. I put out the fat off the cooked meats and bacon rind. At least as I am on the second floor they are not at risk from cats.

bagitha Sat 25-Feb-12 10:39:29

There's an idea! I think I might voice my 'need' for some tulips to DH when he takes DD round the loch for her trumpet lesson this afternoon. smile

The garden daffs are coming along. Some have flower buds now but I can't have them in the house as they do my sinuses in.

Tulips though...... grin

Butternut Sat 25-Feb-12 10:23:10

I can't think of a better reason to get up and out than to find some daffodils, whatsup. I had a real need for some tulips yesterday and ventured out (big sunglasses on). This morning there they are, doing their thing on the kitchen table. Lovely!

wotsamashedupjingl Sat 25-Feb-12 09:57:16

The need for a bunch of daffodils got me out of bed this morning. A real need! Perhaps not as bad as the need for a bowl of porridge, but still...

nanamacatj Fri 24-Feb-12 22:11:50

The frogs in my pond in W Yorks are very active, if you know what I mean, they where very disgruntled when I was trying to scope out debris from the pond this afternoon smile.

Jacey Fri 24-Feb-12 20:59:24

NO ...what with snow until middle of last week ...biting winds!! Have been out and about ...this was a first this year. Today we had warmth ...but still no sun!!

Couldn't even do the RSPB count the other weekend ...freezing fog all day!!

Where do I live ...very open/exposed part of the North Downs ...nothing between me and Siberia grin ...or so it seems!!

bagitha Fri 24-Feb-12 19:23:35

Maybe in a town people don't notice it so much until it gets really loud sad.

bagitha Fri 24-Feb-12 19:22:40

Gosh, jacey! Where are you? I'm north of the 56th parallel and we've had birdsong for weeks!

Jacey Fri 24-Feb-12 19:06:05

Heard birds singing today!! The first of the year ...people were actually stopping to listen smile

Butternut Fri 24-Feb-12 18:38:11

....and why should you want to make it rhyme...?

Butternut Fri 24-Feb-12 18:28:28

Lucky you to see a kingfisher whatsup - fabulous colouring.

wotsamashedupjingl Fri 24-Feb-12 17:22:30

grin That's very good jeni grin

jeni Fri 24-Feb-12 17:16:02

A kingfisher zippedby me
The swans were building nests.
The buds are breaking on the trees
I'll soon leave off my vest!

wotsamashedupjingl Fri 24-Feb-12 17:09:21

I'm sorry I can't make that rhyme.

wotsamashedupjingl Fri 24-Feb-12 17:08:45

I saw a kingfisher whizz up the river today. It was while I was standing watching two swans building a nest.

bagitha Fri 24-Feb-12 17:05:05

Indeed, butty, and I'm fortunate to be able to do work that gives me pleasure and in which I can take a pride smile. Meanwhile, I think I've acquired my first insect bite of the year during one of those garden bursts: I have an itchy earlobe! It's about right for timing. I often get the first bites in late February.

Butternut Fri 24-Feb-12 16:05:56

I can just imagine your day bagitha - it sounds a very contented one. smile
Nothing beats the simplicity of taking pleasure in one's daily life.

bagitha Fri 24-Feb-12 15:13:10

Two shorts bursts in the garden
Where honeysuckle leaf buds are opening
And the red grape-like bunches
Of flowering currant are hanging.
Bluebell leaves are visible too.
Another two bursts of patch-cutting
From leafy fabric, for a quilt I'm making.
Refreshing cups of tea between times,
Some mushroom soup,
And a sit-downery in my favourite chair
To look at sunlight on gum tree leaves.

Butternut Thu 23-Feb-12 20:45:05

Poor woodcock!sad