07/04/2013

So, there is a gardening god!

And at last he took note of us gardeners and sent us some fine weather this weekend. Still frosty in the morning, and still not exactly warm during the day, but the sun was out and I was happy to be able to get on with a lot of jobs that had been piling up. The birds were singing, the bees were buzzing and all was right with the world. I hear it's going to pour with rain on Tuesday though, so it could all be downhill again from there ;-)


I deadheaded, cleared away all the bamboo leaves (crikey, they get EVERYWHERE!), dug up two weeds (yes, there were only two!), cleaned the bird table and bird bath, sorted out a few pots and then took lots of photos of all the buds and shoots appearing around the garden. 

I love sedums, as they add structure to the garden and seem virtually indestructible, well, apart from a few snail nibbles here and there. Their shoots are springing up and looking healthy.

I'm hoping for great things from my lilac this year. It had it's best flowering year ever last year, smothered with fragrant white blooms all over. My apple tree was the complete opposite. One lousy apple, which fell and rotted as I forgot all about it in the dreary weather. 



Seeing the bleeding hearts always fills me with cheer. Such a graceful plant, I can never wait for it to flower. Even the shoots are pretty, don't you think?


And then there are the geranium, aquilegia, azalea, peony, polyanthus and fern buds, plus bunches of chives and salix catkins, all reminding me that the garden is awaking from it's sleep, albeit a little bit later this year.









25 comments:

  1. I agree; it's been wonderful to get out in the garden this weekend (finally). These are lovely photos of the first shoots and buds. And we had a terrible apple year last year as well, we were really disappointed with our crop after having such high hopes.

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    1. The dreadful weather must have played a large part in the terrible apple year Wendy. I don't think anyone got a good crop. Here's hoping for a bumper load this year :-)

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  2. A little bit of sunshine and we start to notice everything waking up from it's winter sleep. I bought two small apple trees last year so I'm looking forward to seeing how they do this year.

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    1. Fingers crossed for your trees Jo. I'd definitely like more than one apple on mine this year!

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  3. So many buds waiting for some mild weather. Lets hope it arrives soon.

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    1. It's been quite mild the last few days here, I'm hoping we've seen the last of winter now.

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  4. Just wish those buds would open.

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  5. Isn't it wonderful to see the sun, even if it is still cold. Lovely signs of spring there, let's hope it's sprung soon.xxxxx

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    1. Now I've had a glimpse of the sun, I don't want it to vanish again! It's a beautiful sunny evening here :-)

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  6. It's good to see photos showing signs of spring like this. Fingers crossed for your apple tree. xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty. Enough for an apple pie would keep me happy :-)

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  7. I don't think we did as well as you, Saturday was lovely, since then back to cold! There is so much waiting to burst out when the warmer weather finally comes. Bring it on!

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    1. Well, it's raining here this morning. Good for the garden, not so good for us gardener's!

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  8. I love how the new growth of peonies looks - so bizarre! You have taken some lovely photos. Enjoy your spring!

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    1. Thank you :-) Yes, the peony shoots are rather odd looking aren't they. I'm happy to see them though, as the poor plant had a terrible time of it last year and had to be hacked back.

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  9. Isn't it exciting to see all those little buds emerging! I can see the rose leaves growing from day to day, they have waited so long, I pruned the roses in February and only now are they emerging!
    I hope when this week’s rain is over, the nice weather return and that we get some glorious sunshine :-)

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    1. I hope so too Helene, I think we deserve it after this rotten winter/spring.

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  10. What lovely photos, can we dare hope that spring is a stirring again and we can start hoping for some good weather and plants growing? It was good to get busy last weekend and I think we all have been trying to catch up on things.

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    1. It's looking promising at the moment Annie, some nice weather forecast for the weekend :-)

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  11. I agree with Annie - your photos are beautiful and colours just stunning. You seem to have more growth than in my garden so it's nice to see what will be (hopefully!). Apart from the tete-a-tetes bought in flower I don't even have any standard daffodils in flower yet!

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    1. I'm sure they'll catch up soon, and when they do, you'll have a beautiful display. It has been such a strange spring!

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  12. I love the way you photographed the fresh growth. Everything looks like a gift that's being unwrapped. :o) How did you add in the Pinterest logo over your pictures?

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    1. Thank you for your comment on my photos, and what a lovely analogy, plants are like little gifts aren't they :-)

      I added the Pinterest button with the help of this sites instructions http://www.bloggersentral.com. I hope they help you.

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  13. oh what fabulous photos! I love seeing the new growth. Every year it seems like a little miracle that the plants have survived the winter and are going to show off their beauty again this season. I love how you've captured that! Dana

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