The Garden Is Waking Up
Spring in the garden
We have been blessed by some beautiful sunny weather over the past week, only interrupted by a true ‘Icelandic day’ a couple of days ago — hard wind, rain, hail, snow, and sun in one and the same day — it’s April.
The dwarf irises at the northern side of the house at the garden are blooming a bit later than those in the rest of the garden as they are almost in perpetual shadow. In other parts of the garden I have found March violets, blue anemones and, of course, hellebores, all enjoying the sun in spite of the still chilly wind.
The daffodils have almost all opened up as have all the hellebores, at least when the sun shines on them. The wisteria and honey suckles have heaps of buds as do the trumpet flower branches, the pear tree, and magnolias. And then a surprise, as the rhubarbs have decided to pop up their very first red shoots — looks promising.
There is still no sight of the corn and sunflowers in the greenhouse — might have to sow some new ones - we shall see. So far, Ms Cat’s grass is growing strong and will replace the grass that has almost gone on the balcony.
As I have told before, we normally go to the garden at least once a week throughout winter to feed the birds, and we still do and shall probably continue until early May. The birds are busy nesting and are therefore constantly hungry, and can hardly wait for me to leave the feeders alone before they cluster around them.
A couple of sparrows have taken up residence in the little house high up on the outer wall of the garden house, just above the dwarf iris. They could well be the same couple that was nesting there last year, but they are definitely busy, so busy, they were hardly bothered by me taking pictures.
I shall leave you with Mr & Mrs Sparrow while I stuff the chocolate eggs to be hidden in the garden tomorrow into my bag to bring along. Hope to remain unseen from my grandson’s expectant eyes while hiding the eggs.
