Late Frosts & Apple Blossom.

Well!  What a dramatic change in the weather.  Until 2 days ago, we had been enjoying a prolonged period of summer temperatures - albeit a bit on the dry side.  In 48 hours, the temperature has plummeted and this morning the garden was white over with frost.  Frost is the very last thing we need with all the fruit trees flowering and potatoes popping up.  Late frosts could mean no apples at all this year and that really would be a great shame.

Hen Gazing & Slug Patrol

Roaming in the cowslips!

Once in a while, they girls are allowed out of their own bamboo garden and given the freedom of the rest of the garden to go out on slug patrol. Last night was one of those occasions and, as it was a sunny evening and the end of a busy day day, we sat in the warm sunshine with a drink watching them  Of course, it's a well known fact that 'Hen Gazing' is a guaranteed cure for any stress related condition!  This is particularly the case on a warm spring evening when all the fruit blossom is out and there is a heavy fragrance in the air.  Watching the sun go down over the hillside with a gin and tonic is also efficacious!

A Get Well Present

These have to be the nicest get well present!  Janine gave them to me a couple of weeks ago - anybody would think she knew me!  A tray of mixed Violas - so many, I was able to fill all these pots plus 2 more not photographed!  Now they are flourishing and will do so for many weeks to come. Thanks very much again Janine.  More Violas

The prettiest of a very pretty collection!

Forest Flames and Flaming Fires!

Pieris Forest Flame is really living up to its name in the Woodland Border especially in the evening sunshine. Nearby, the Under Gardener was enojoying leaping flames of his own contrivance. These bright red new shoots begin life in these vivid colours and then fade through pale lemon and pale green before turning a darker green.. The flowers hand like bunches of mini grapes.

A few yards away, our Under Gardener could just be seen through the smoke stoking his own flames and burning brash from Elderberry and conifer pruning.

The Song Thrush of Pear Tree Cottage

This indifferent bit of video wouldn't win a single prize but it's really worth listening to.   Mr. Thrush is singing from the top of our 60' conifer at the bottom of the garden.  He took no notice of me at all and when I played back my recording to him, he sang all the louder!  At this time of year, his concerts are held every morning and evening.  As from Monday 13th, he is sometimes joined by a cuckoo down in the valley.

Spring Fever!

We can REALLY say it's spring now as the cuckoo (not my photo) has arrived!!  Well, he arrived on Monday 13th, to be precise.  Funny how we love the cuckoo when he's not exactly a bird of nice habits!  The other local arrival has been the first asparagus and I can say it's truly delicious.  Other arrivals include bats which have been much in evidence flitting around in the evening twilight.  The magnolia is in full bloom and the only awaited visitors are the swallows.  The grass is growing apace so mowing is back on the twice weekly gardening agenda not to mention edging!

At the end of the day...........

Sunset over Martley Hillside

...on a rare warm spring evening after a busy day's work in the garden; what better than to enjoy both the sunset and a well earned sundowner whilst listening to our resident thrush high up in the conifer singing his heart out?