Early Spring Bits and Bobs.

[Geoff]

It was such a nice day I went for a ride round. And round and round and round - I cut the top grass nearest the house.

[old codger]

I had so much planned for today, but got held up all afternoon with visitors.
I know i shouldn't moan about having so many, very good friends coming round, but i wish they would visit on wet days.....

I suppose that is a real bonus for Codger, having just one friend, that is.
But there is even a down-side to that, because it's me.

Well O.H having friends like you ,you would'nt need enemies

[oldherbaceous]

That's a very fair comment, Codger.....

See you tomorrow afternoon.

[WestHamRon]

I think OH and Codger are actually teenagers.
Who else spends so much time together but still have to have conversations on t'interweb as well?

[donedigging]

I bet they had only just shouted "night" to each other as well lol !!

[oldherbaceous]

I think boyish is a better word.

[PLUMPUDDING]

What a beautiful day yesterday another bright sunny morning. Isn't it amazing where all the butterflies, bees and ladybirds come from the instant it warms up. I saw at least 12 butterflies yesterday afternoon - small tortoishells, a comma and a few peackocks, also numerous ladybirds and three varieties of bumblebees plus all the honey bees.

Did so much gardening my arms don't work today!

[Primrose]

Was so overwhelmed by the sunshine I was tempted to get our garden furniture out of winter storage but thought that might be tempting fate just a little too much! But the sunshine on the windows has made me realise the interiors really need a good clean (Which in my case will probably mean they end up looking worse and more smeary than beforehand!)

[Clive.]

Forgot to say, had the mower out this morning and cut the allotment paths, I wonder if Clive has been making hay today!

Our old mower had a run last week.

Sunday.....Shallots in, first Carrots, under mesh on pipe hoops and second Broad beans sown.
180 visitors.
Comma, Tortoiseshell and Brimstone butterflies fluttering about.

Vales Emerald Potatoes, very well chitted, planted a couple of weeks ago.

Still much border work to do...............

Today wind went into NE....not so warm...but it is drying the car park.
Snowdrop day was cancelled in Feb due to swampy parking.

I'm a bit quiet at the moment, feeling rather tired.

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

Good to see a post from you Clive, i have thought about you many times this Winter, when i have been rained off. I think this Winter with it's rain, was harder for work, then last Winter with the snow.

[Clive.]

Thank you for your thoughts Old H'

Were we still in snow at this time last year.??

The wet has been frustrating....I can hardly complain at a bit of mud on the top when others have had feet deep of water...but it does seem to have been extra hard going this Winter.

Here's the Vales Emerald going in...a bit of quick planting when conditions suddenly came right...possibly being a bit keen, but in a very sheltered spot on slight South slope with wall behind.

Clive.

[Geoff]

Were we still in snow at this time last year.??

According to my diary the worst was yet to come.
Lots of mentions of frost and sleet from 10th to 16th, snow and sleet 17th and 18th then cold until blizzard all day 22nd, snowed in 23rd, road open 24th, stayed cold but with little snow for the rest of the month.

[alan refail]

According to my diary we had slight snow flurries on 11, 23 and 27 March, but nothing settled. Plenty of sub-zero mornings, though.

[Geoff]

Another beautiful day. Heathers alive with huge bumble bees.

[Monika]

This year's first butterflies in the garden the day before yesterday and every day since then: 1 comma and 2 small tortoiseshell. Also bumble bees, honey bees and lots of ladybirds - one wallflower plant had five ladybirds on it this morning!

Bramblings are still about.

I am very tempted to sow and plant, but I am holding back, just in case .....