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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

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

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

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!

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.

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!!

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.

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...

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!

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

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.

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....

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.

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

wotsamashedupjingl Sat 25-Feb-12 12:59:18

God yes! That could be nasty! shock

bagitha Sat 25-Feb-12 12:59:30

Ha! Ha! jings! Love the breakfast coffee in the microwave. grin

jeni Sat 25-Feb-12 13:00:16

Dd. played hers with braces. I think she still plays, or did before dgc arrived!

bagitha Sat 25-Feb-12 13:02:23

Maybe that's why it sounded bad?

DD's teacher teaches other brass instruments as well and I think they'll find something between them. I'm keeping out of it.

Butternut Sat 25-Feb-12 13:03:13

I've recently had a fancy for an old-fashioned bird table, getting fed up with all the dingly-dangly-fill-me-up expensive bird feeders, so my husband has found suitable bits of wood that were hanging around in workshop etc., got going with a saw, found a bit of zinc dump-diving at the communal tip to protect the roof, and it is well on the way to being completed. No money spent. Big smile

jeni Sat 25-Feb-12 13:03:49

Sun is shining. Birds were very noisy this morning. Lovely blue sky. Waiting for dd and dgc to arrive. I could have an avatar moment wax poetical!
But I am a strong woman and will resist temptation.

Butternut Sat 25-Feb-12 13:04:01

whatsup - So did you get your daffs.?

bagitha Sat 25-Feb-12 13:04:06

DD1 (flute, piano) told us she'd always wanted to play the trumpet when DD3 started! Kids!!!!

bagitha Sat 25-Feb-12 13:05:47

How's your head, jeni? Been wondering. Forgot to ask.

Butternut Sat 25-Feb-12 13:06:21

jeni - Have a fab. afternoon.