Pages

Thursday

They've arrived...

As we sat after dinner tonight we spotted what we thought must be the first swallows arriving. Then a few more flew over the house, and we could clearly see their very characteristic forked tails, and the final confirmation was when we heard their squabbly call. I don't remember them ever reaching these parts in March before (OK it is the 31st). Today we had an especially strong southerly wind, did that help carry them along quickly?

Sunday

Seedlings coming on a pace

As varied as the seeds that they emerge from, seedlings come in a wonderful array of forms, and never fail to delight. After a week of mild day time temperatures and quite a lot of sun, I watch their daily progress with eager anticipation. Broad beans are now planted out and the first sugarsnap peas too. Salads which are hardy I can transplant shortly, then we can look forward to having this year's lettuces in May.

Thursday

What a gaff!

My dear friend Hilary, very discreetly pointed out (but far more subtly than that really) that I had made a bloomer. Toads and newts, of course aren't reptiles at all, but Amphibians - I hold my head in shame, at my erroneous scientific classification.

Monday

Our new gift wrap in action


Soon all manner of new things will be on our website, but now its slow and steady to develop it ... patience is a virtue, or so i am told.

Thursday

Has Spring sprung?

Well I certainly think it has, even here in deepst darkest Shropshire it would seem so. The blackbirds have started to sing, and they are generally very tardy, saw some primroses flowering today (- they have such a beautiful pale lemony colour), and the reptile population is definitely making up for time lost hibernating. Last night I when I went out to tuck up my seedlings for the night I had to step very carefully to avoid all the little newts. Most people thing the common newt is no longer common, well here it still is.
I must say I have a particular fondness for small reptiles, newts especially, which is just as well as anything that has been stored through winter, for instance my favourite dahlia bulbs or garden pots now has a resident newt underneath, and now they are getting quite frisky. Then this morning there were 3 toads sitting on my back door step...and now they are seranading - how romantic.