April has arrived and the weather has turned much more typical to the time of year; chilly out of the sun with welcome showers of rain.
In the garden, bird activity continues unabated with bluetits and robins making good use of the feeders and magpies and jackdaws popping in occasionally to forage on the lawn. Sometimes a green woodpecker may call nearby and wood pigeons share their peaceful cooing.
Amongst the plants in bloom white comfrey is out, frequently visited by passing bumble-bees, whilst around the pond the fritillarias and marsh marigold are in flower. Alas, the fritillarias seem only of the white variety but we'll be adding to them in the autumn.
In the garden, bird activity continues unabated with bluetits and robins making good use of the feeders and magpies and jackdaws popping in occasionally to forage on the lawn. Sometimes a green woodpecker may call nearby and wood pigeons share their peaceful cooing.
Amongst the plants in bloom white comfrey is out, frequently visited by passing bumble-bees, whilst around the pond the fritillarias and marsh marigold are in flower. Alas, the fritillarias seem only of the white variety but we'll be adding to them in the autumn.
In the pond the tadpoles seem, at first sight, to have completely vanished! Certainly, the mass of writhing bodies has gone, but as your eyes tune in you soon notice the odd tadpole wriggling around the margins. Great pond snails slowly munch away at the water weeds.
Insect activity has certainly increased of late with all sorts of bees, bumble-bees and hoverflies on the wing. This weekend we also had a comma butterfly pay a visit.
Slow worms continue to enjoy the warmth and rich food source of the compost heap.
As well as the excitment of seeing the foxgloves I sowed recently germinate, Suesie has been busy sowing broad beans and peas in the veg patch, and this weekend it became warm enough to share our first outdoor lunch of the year.