Joys of Spring

Thanks butter. My head is ok now thanks. Bags, that is unless dgc who has just discovered her mothers hair, decides to yank it

(Try having someone with drums next door, it's happened to me twice.)

Must be spring because my tulips have appeared....but this wasn't a joy because they came up UNDER the pots of other things I had put there to disguise the bare bed. So I've suddenly had to move them all!
However I will have that joy of tulips when they have recovered. I do actually plan to move them this year, as the visible bed is only looking nice for two weeks a year...............

And to me! Murderz,!!

Having just returned from holiday I was pleased to see first snowdrops and crocus out---- great ! I have just been out and bought lovely bunches of daffs for house they look smashing, although I did read in todays paper that the price might be going up because of the topsy turvy weather we have been having

DH went a bit mad in the flower shop so now we have a huge yellow jugful of blue irises and white tulips (what I asked for) plus some red tulips (what he likes), and they're frilly tulips too.

Just read your post bagitha and found myself just nodding my head. Great combo. of colours.

The bird-table is now finished, positioned, half a coconut hanging underneath, sunflower seeds on the table - and is there a bird in sight? Not one!

Looks the business, though.

The birds definitely think spring is in the air.
I could wish some sunshine were as well,
But it makes me smile to see
Dunnocks and chaffinches chasing about the garden
Blackbirds and dunnocks (again! we have lots!)
Settling on wood piles with their
Spring wing flick,
That flick which means "Look at me! Mate with me!
I'm fit! I'm healthy! I'll be a great parent for your chicks!"

So all the birds are in your garden then, bagitha

The birds are certainly not in mine. Although, after the Garden Bird Watch we had a nuthatch and a fieldfare. During birdwatch we had 4 bluetits!! We have some daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses out but lots of shrubs are budding too. We even took the cover off the little two seat bench but now it needs a good scrub.

This morning I have had robins, long-tailed tits, blackbirds and a cheeky magpie who came with a mince pie!! to dip it in my bird bath. One of my neighbours must be emptying their cupboards

The jay had returned to my garden - last seen being shouted at by the robing, who is about one eighth his size. The weeping pear, in which we hang the feeders, is shimmering with blue and great tits. Very noisy!

More frogspawn in the pond, and yet more in some of the permanent puddles by the field.

Saw the first little green gecko sunning herself on the wall today.
I like them when they are still, but don't like them when they scuttle away.

bagitha
I am just outside Bristol. I STILL have no frogspawn! Why not? Have you exported all the frogs north.
I WANT frogspawn.
It is my human right to have frogspawn!
I shall complain to the human rights court in Brussels!!!

Anybody want some root feeding cockchafers? I empties out two large pots today because the shrubs were not thriving - and found these pests. I stopped counting when I got to 50! .

Thing is, I don't know what to do with them. Dare I feed them to the birds?

I'd much rather have some frogspawn - Swap anyone??

Wish I could summon up more springtime energy for the 24 raised beds still left to clear and prepare. I have done four. Sighs.
PS Butternut - do you pronounce it the French way Bootairnoot?

The colour is coming back: cornus mas in full bloom; camellias responding well to the ericaceous fertilizer they had last year and rhododendron praecox flowering away happily.

Blimey, Mamie - that's a lot of raised beds. I've only got four quadrangles to dig over - I'm trying to develop a curate's garden - mixed veg, herbs and flowers.

Wishing you good luck and a strong back for the remaining beds.

I haven't come across Bootairnoot.

Chuck the chafers to the chooks, butty!

jeni, maybe Bristol isn't wet enough yet? Should be though, on the west. Who knows? I'm going to check naturescalendar and see if other people in your area have frogspawn......

Backsun, as Pooh Bah would say.

There's masses of frogspawn near Bristol, jeni. It must be something you (or your gardener) said!!!

You might not be able to do the interactive map thingy on your iPad. I can't. I had to go to the big comp.

My dot isn't showing up yet on the map because I've only just entered our earlier-in-February sighting.

Definitely called Bootairnoot in our local market. Bit like toopairware parties, you must have those in your bit of France.
Yes far too many beds, have done four for onions, only spuds, salads, brassica, courgettes, aubergines, toms, beans, peas zzzzzzz
I seem to remember some romantic notion of moving to France for the good life.

It is, Mamie, it is! I tried the potage for a couple of years, but it was too exhausting. It's now a beautiful lawn ! I never knew gardening would be so different here.

bagitha
They were late in my pond last year as well. Just lazy frogs I think

Humph. no frogspawn here in chilly edge of east anglia either. It is milder near the sea methinks.
BUT
Not only a few daffs but the BLACKTHORN IS OUT - yes i am shouting. It is my official indicator of spring. I am very aware where the earliest blackthorn is in the area - just next to the bridge over the mainline railway.
And despite the lack of frogs my solitary mr toad was at it again - clasping the poor goldfish in a passionate embrace. Bet that poor fish was surprised to have that happen again, after all these months of neglect
I do need to dispose of the woodcock though. I think the notion that I will eat it has now gone past its pluck by date...