How is spring doing?

Lots of beautiful blossom, primroses and celandine on the roadsides, and next door's magnolia is just coming into flower! The lavender and Rosemary are budding, and my chives have had a real spurt. And it is another glorious day - the beaches are spectacular.

My patio is covered with dead camellia heads, though, all brown and nasty. Am waiting for the person who sweeps (Theseus) to get on with it, but he's very excited because the grass needs cutting, which means he can start on the lawn at the front and spend the whole afternoon chatting to everyone passing by.

Celandines flourish behind my shed and on the banks of the brook that runs past my garden. The sun is out again and I have the sunscreen, sunhat and sun glasses ready for an afternoon in the garden.

hildajenni we don't have far to go to see celandines, they are all over our lawn! We have given in trying to get rid of them, just enjoy them while they last.

Took the DGDs to the park yesterday and got the back of my neck burnt! I think they were OK as they were running around.

Is it time for sun cream already?

Early blossom - isn't it lovely? DH is putting together his new long-arm bush trimmer. Must watch he doesn't get near the lilacs.

Yes! sat in the garden yesterday with lunch - hoping to do the same today but hazy at the moment. Hardening off the dieramas I had delivered in Mch. need to put in a lot of compost as I think they like a moist root in the Summer and we live on chalk downland so need to support the soil a bit. Soil is still a bit cold though and there is no sign of those plants I planted in the autumn hope they are OK, but the garden is heaving with daffs and more to come. Tulips are beginning to bud, joy oh joy.

Went to put washing and rubbish out and came in sneezing. Hayfever season is here again, joy.

Lovely day here today. We sat out in the garden all afternoon. Well, I sat with my crutch propped next to me as a symbol that I can't do much at the moment. DH hung out the washing, put up the gazebo then made tea for DS and GS. We both refrained from admonishing grandson for climbing in the nut tree as it was so nice to see a 13 year old leaning into the tree and quietly admiring the bright blue sky. In the end his Dad told him off and he came back down.

I saw a butterfly outside today so I rushed to the downstairs to to see if my hibernating butterfly was there but it had flown away..maybe it was the one I saw through the window. At least I've made up [I hope] for the butterfly I accidentally killed the other year.

Saw my first peacock butterfly yesterday, anno, and a tortoiseshell today.
Springwatch/woodland trust want to know when you see your first orange tip, and hawthorn blossom.

My lilac has been very slow this year, and the japanese acer looks almost dead still! I remember when we first viewed this house 20 years ago at the end of April and the lilac was in full bloom - no way will it be so this year!

(On the plus side, the forget-me-nots are giving a wonderful display!)

I have always wanted to have a lilac tree but, because of the lie of the land have not been able to plant one, as it would stand in the way of our wonderful view. But a friend found me a lilac bush last autumn and I have watched it sitting there like a dead stick for months, but.........it now has leaves and tiny flower buds. I am so looking forward to seeing it in bloom.

I am also pleased to see so many bees in the garden - and honey bees at that. We hardly saw any honey bees last year. Our two year old plum tree has put on a spurt this year - we actually have some flower buds this year so hopefully we may see a few plums! My camelia is full of buds but they are all at the back of the plant, so the flowers hardly be seen. I don't want to cut any foliage back in case it affects next year's flowers. On the wild side, masses of wild garlic down by the river. Might try and use some this year!

Rhodededron is glorious with red flowers and asparagus is peeping through. Great tits are feathering nest box. Spring has sprung!

Out with the dog earlier I saw celandines and wood anenomies. I tried to go up the riverside path to see the primroses, but the dog wouldn't go. She is 15 after all.
We have bumble bees and honey bees in the garden.

Thanks to good weather, managed to get the garden up to date, couple of painting jobs left, but don't have paint yet.

Glorious afternoon, following a misty morning. I've just pruned the winter-flowering honeysuckle and have seen my first peacock butterfly of the year. Can also feel my eyes puffing up with the pollen.

Today I have been presented with the first lawn daisies of the year by DGS.

Every time DGC are here they pick all the daisies they can find, and present them to me or mummy. They are really good though and have never touched the flowers in the borders or pots.

I put the fluff from the tumble dryer out for the birds nesting, although they prefer the coir matting from the wall baskets!
Lovely day yesterday and today, so off soon to the garden centre.

I tried to plant in my big trough and found it completely matted with moss and old roots. I had to take a saw to cut out the old compost!
So I'm going to get new compost and grit and replant it!

I've been looking at ideas on the Internet. Some very creative thinking going on there. A good waste of an hour or so!

x

gran cutting up wool today Think I might also brush the dog through and put that out! Although he is a bit smelly at the moment not really the sort of smell you would want for your new born infants!

petra well us gardeners put up with the untidyness! It doesn't last long and all the time you are working with nature - well she really isn't very tidy is she!? But it is your garden so you do exactly as you please.

Bits of pure wool are best I think. Horrible week-end here, very cold with the East wind blowing right through your bones. Woke up to thick fog, which is unusual up here in the mountains- but wind has dropped, and sun has burnt the fog- so a lovely Spring day ahead again.

This garden is quiet new to me so I had no idea how many daff bulbs were in one of the beds.
My dilemer is: I don't want to leave them all in there until they have died off completely. They look so untidy lol. The only other way, as I see it, is to take them up (after flowering) and buy new ones next year. They're cheap enough. What are your thoughts?

Thought that I would start to leave some material for the birds to use in their nests - has anyone any ideas of stuff that is handy in the house?

It's been a beautiful day here on Wirral. We planted broad beans at the allotment this morning and then tidied the back garden after lunch. I sat in the sun with a cup of tea and a book - lovely!