Garden times

Last weekend, I warbled on so much about horsey stuff that I didn’t mention the garden but Spring really was starting to show. At 200 or so metres above sea level, things are a bit further behind at Spring Cottage than in towns or down on the Somerset Levels. So, belatedly, here are some pictures:

I love the way that these daffodils have managed to grow right at the top of the bank between Higher Close, the field behind the cottage, and our garden. Perhaps Lady-Vendor planted them up there deliberately, or perhaps they got there courtesy of a rabbit, who knows? But it’s a lovely spot for them.

The cats are always very keen to get out into the garden and they have very little competition for their territory here. In this picture, they are are advancing in a crouch, still a little bit ‘on guard’ as they head out to explore. The concrete behind Percy is the top of the septic tank and to its left a rough patch of earth that I haven’t yet decided what to do with. I had thought that I would grow a few vegetables there originally but they would need a lot of protection from the rabbits and, so far, I haven’t had the energy to prepare the bed properly for that. My other idea is to have a wild flower patch.

Saturday morning dawned with clear skies, a temperature of minus three degrees and a sharp frost, which produced the rather odd juxtaposition of frost and daffodils. The daffodils have a very strong scent unlike any of the shop bought ones I’ve come across.

I think these are peonies just starting to come up. They look frighteningly triffid-like.

And, of course, after almost three months, the hellebores are still going strong. These two look like a pair of ballet dancers doing a pas de deux.

Lovelymost!