Spring is gradually revealing it's face

 

5th March 2021

The Spring flowers have started to appear. Daffodils are now abundant.

Crocuses are also well established.

Another tree which appeared a couple of years back has developed blossom this year.

My mind never goes far from from Zambia. I am longing to get back and catch up on my many friends There they are getting ready for the harvest. At the church I attend they planted some seed I was able to provide last year. The result is 5 hectares of Sunflowers!

I went for a walk during the past week and found the parks and roads nearby are generally ahead of my garden - with daisies, celendine and dandelions showing their faces.

 

The local council tubs are cheering us up with a good display

My forsythia is now coming into flower. i expect a good display this week whern the weather warms a bit and we get a bit more sun.

Chris

The Frogs are Back!

24th February 2021

I have been fighting technology over the past few days which is my excuse for a delay in writing this blog. The cold weather has given way to a mild spell. The daffodils have taken advantage of a bit of sun to come into bloom.

The crocuses are also developing and multiplying.

We have entered into Lent - a time for taking stock. I find spending time in the garden a great opportunity to be with nature and God - this is my prayer. A robin joined me as I repaired my compost bin and returned the rotting vegetation.

I planted some muscari in the rockery at the end of last year and these are about to come into flower.

On 21st February frogspawn appeared in the pond. This is perhaps a couple of days earlier than normal but it has become very predictable event. I first introduced frogspawn into my pond in 1989 and the frogs returned in 1991 - they have returned regularly over the past 30 years to lay frogspawn in the same corner of the pond!

The frogs are still very busy in the pond.

Chris

Dead Trees

Saturday 23rd January

Today was another sunny though cold day and tomorrow we are expecting a little snow.

It appears that the trees are dead. I recall tht some years ago some African children visited Cheltenham and were surprised by the dead trees - even more so when they were asked to help plnt more "dead" trees.

If we look closer however, buds and even leaves are already forming on the trees and bushes. 

In Africa it is the ground that becomes lifeless sand. There the transformation is quicker and more dramatic. A day or so after the first rains, green shoots appear and within a couple of weeks the sand is covered with a green carpet, much to the delight of the cattle and other wildlife! A desert is transformed into a tropical delight!

My garden is still largely asleep! A crocus is trying to come out and the cyclamen plants are acquiring more flowers - everything else is in a state of development. 

I had wondered why the birds didn't seem interested in the rosehips and other berries, but listening to Winterwatch I found out that some are far more attractive when they are allowed to become soft. I also learnt that ivy berries provide a lot of energy - mine have just turned a ripe black!

I prepared a special treat for the birds today made of crushed peanuts and various seeds bound in fat and daubed in tree crevices. Last time I did this numerous starlings suddenly appeared in the garden - a species that never usully visits. We will see!

Take care and keep safe.

Chris