.... is spring. Last week, on a day of beautiful, warm sunshine, I took a photograph of honeybees collecting pollen from the crocuses (above), but, since then, spring has been smothered by another spell of winter (with snow). Like many other gardeners, I'm becoming frustrated with the cold weather, because I can't get on with everything in the garden I want to do. I know that when spring, proper, does arrive, I'll suddenly have a whole list of things to get on with.
So, in the meantime, I'm preparing the smallholding for gardening. The first job is to finish the cold frame we've started. It's almost ready, but needs a cover, either glass or plastic. I'd prefer glass, but this will be more expensive than plastic (unless we can get hold of some cheaply). We'll have to make up our minds soon because I'll want to harden off seedlings in there.
We're also preparing for spring visitors; all the nest boxes we've made over the years are in place including the owl box that we hope will attract the barn owl we've recently seen hunting in the next field. And we've started to leave the door of the hay barn open as we try to tempt the swallows to nest there this spring...
We're not short of mud on the smallholding this year; so they'll have plenty of nest material!
As well as the crocuses, I have hellebores in flower, one clump of primroses (my other primroses are still just small, green leaves), some miniature daffodils and some fading snowdrops.
The large daffs and other spring flowers have yet to show themselves. So I've been looking for some signs of spring in the wider countryside. I've walked through the woods looking for wood anemones, but there is no sign of them yet. I love these little star-like flowers, which carpet the woodland floor in early spring, before giving way to the bluebells. I'm sure I saw wood anemones and bluebells by the end of March last year, although the weather had been drier and warmer, of course.
But I did discover this small bloom of blackthorn...
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| Cador preparing to see off George, the other gander |
So not too many sights of spring here just yet; but I do have a taste of it, I suppose, because last year's hawthorn blossom wine is now ready to drink.
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| Hawthorn Blossom Wine |
This lovely hedgerow drink, gathered last May, will have to keep me going, then, until spring really arrives.
Everything is at least a fortnight delayed on last year here, although we do have lots of blackthorn in blossom in the hedges. The wine looks so lovely with the glasses and flowers- you must let us know how it tastes? M attempted hedgerow wine year before last. It was disgusting but worked well as oven cleaner, so not a complete loss!
ReplyDeleteThis is the only blackthorn blossom I've seen around here; we're obviously much later this year. The wine is lovely, but I know what you mean about country wines in general; they can either be very good or very bad.
DeleteOh, lovely photo of Cador (I see what you mean about the mud..). I hope the breeding season passes peacefully and without injury. Will you let the eggs hatch?
ReplyDeleteWe made the mistake of leaving an outhouse door open and had to evict a robin.
Yes, Cador is standing in a sea of mud. I was tempted to put in a before and after photo of this spot here, because this time last year he would have been standing on green. I won't let the eggs hatch, but I'll collect them when the geese aren't looking (otherwise I'll get a nasty nip)
DeleteOh how I wish I had enough room for a coldframe in my garden. I love that first photograph - and remember that one warm sunny day. Seems like months ago...
ReplyDeleteThis is our first cold frame, so I'm looking forward to using it. I agree about that lovely day, it does already feel like a long time ago.
DeleteA lovely post - the beautiful light in your photographs gives us cause to hope. Spring has been knocked back here a couple of times (light snow again this week) but at least the grass, which was threatening to start growing a few weeks ago, has gone back to sleep.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Well, spring surely can't be that far off now. And you're right about the grass; it'll soon start shooting up.
DeleteAh, lovely to see the bees on the crocuses. This cold weather makes everything more miserable, it's a frustrating time of year when you get flashes of sunshine and then the chills return.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was wonderful to see the honeybees out - and the first bumblebees. I just hope it won't be too long before they're flying more regularly.
DeleteI've not seen any blackthorn blossom yet, always an important marker,, maybe I should take a walk up the river valley. Lovely looking coldframe, maybe plastic for now and look out for some old windows on freecycle? It looks like it deserves glass eventually. Beautiful crocus photos, as if I needed more incentive to buy lots of bulbs this autumn...
ReplyDeleteWhen I realised I hadn't seen any blackthorn blossom yet I went looking for it. Thanks for the tip about the coldframe; I think you're right, whatever we do in the short term we should aim for glass eventually. And although I plant lots of crocus bulbs and only a few of these actually seem to flower - I'm not going to give up with them.
DeleteWhat a difference a week makes! I too am anxious to get out into the garden, we had a bit of a tidy up when the sun was out last week but nothing since. I love your photos of the bee on the crocus and the goose:)
ReplyDeleteYes, I was ready to get going with spring tasks last week when the sun came out - I couldn't believe it when winter came back!
DeleteI am enjoying finding out more and more about you....like you have geese! How fantastic!!! We have them at the rescue and I understand your relief when the chaps finally quit squaring up to each other....our roosters are the same and they can get nasty. I love geese, they have such attitude and I bet yours are great guard dogs!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea trying to attract the swallows and the barn owl, I shall look forward to seeing the pics if you're successful.
Some beautiful spring pics there, especially the crocus and the bee.
I share your frustration with the weather, we're having similar problems, cold snowy snaps then back to rain, and this is such a busy time....roll on the sunny days eh?
RESPECT re the wine....it looks delicious....leave a glass for me ....pretty please....xxxxx
Well, I'm very fond of my geese although the ganders do drive me a bit mad at this time of year with these constant scraps. It appears to be about impressing the females, who never look that interested anyway. I really hope that we attract the swallows and the owl this year; we haven't had any luck yet. And I wish I could pass you a glass of wine (although it is disappearing fast!)
DeleteWhen I had a smallholding the one animal I never kept was geese. Although my Aylesbury ducks were practically as big. I am guessing the wine is made from the flowers - what does it taste like. It certainly is lovely and clear.
ReplyDeleteI'm completely converted to geese because they respond really well to me as their owner. I think I'd like ducks, too, although we've no plans for them. And I'm no expert at describing wine, but if I say it has a light, floral, fresh taste I hope that will give you some idea.
DeleteGorgeous crocuses - no sign of ours, I suspect they have rotted in the ground as it's been so sopping wet for so long now. The daffodils though are getting ready to give us a much needed splash of colour!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your crocuses; I've planted crocus bulbs all over the place and only a few of these have come up. Like you, I'm now looking forward to the daffodils.
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog. Wow Owls and Swallows - amazing. We do have owls close by (I live quite rural) but could never imagine having the space to entice them into my garden. Owl envy!!
ReplyDeleteThe rest of your garden sounds pretty much like mine - that snow last week put a sudden stop to some things I think. Still, it won't be long before spring 'proper'.
Hello Angie, I enjoyed reading your blog very much. I'm hoping that the barn owl will nest in the box; I'm not sure we can do anymore, now, to tempt it in. I'm hoping that spring weather is only days away now...
DeleteCan you share your hawthorn wine recipe? My last attempt at hedgerow wine-making was elderberry and that was vile, but I keen to go back to the hedge and try something different.
ReplyDeleteHello Julian. I'm sorry to hear about your elderberry. I'd love to share the recipe & will probably include it in a May post (around the time it can be made).
DeleteHi Wendy. Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. I have popped over to take a nose at yours & it really is lovely. I am off to read through the rest of it. I am also looking forward to when you post the recipe for Hawthorn wine. It sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteHello - and thank you. Well, I loved reading your own blog and look forward to following what you do!
DeleteAh the colors of spring!! Beautiful photos Wendy!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's been a poor spring here, but in the warm sunshine, it was glorious.
DeleteThanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment, its great as I've found another great blog to follow. Those crocuses are cheery on a bleak snowy day. Hawthorn wine that sounds lovely, and yes would be great to get the recipe. I'm very impressed with your coldframe.
ReplyDeleteHello Annie - and thank you. I'm glad I found your blog; I've really enjoyed reading it. Everything is under snow here too, including all the spring flowers. And we've just put in the glass for the cold frame today (having decided on glass this week, so it's nearly finished.
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