Spring is on its way (just about)

I've been watching the verge under the hedgerow over the road very carefully in the hope that the daffodils and crocuses we planted last back end would begin to show. However, the weather's not been great - it's been a very damp February...

... and everything's been a bit bleak

not to say soaking wet....

But now, as we move into March, the crocuses are showing and the Daffodils are up and looking strong.

Around the remaining Elm saplings, they're looking good. (The boys who broke at least one of the Elm saplings - cost £250 each - were caught and we're looking for restorative justice. This probably means getting their parents to pay up.)

Under the wall by the care home, where it's a bit more sheltered, the dwarf daffodils are up and open...

... and, gloriously, so are the irises - perhaps my all-time favourite.

Looks like Spring is finally here. Can't wait for my retirement date at the end of May and a Summer of cricket, glass-cutting and the garden. Aaaaaah!

Not Smelliblog...

With the improvement in the weather, all the daffodils are finally out, in the gardens and in the hedgerows




What's slightly unusual this year is that, because the daffodils are so late, we've gor the tulips out at the same time - it's an ill wind that blows nobody good.

The Finches are clearing out the feeders and, because the weather was so cold, we've left it too late to cut back the laurel hedge. We'll have to wait until neting is over before we can have a go.

As I walked over to the main University campus this morning, I was almost overwhelmed by the scent of May blossom. I didn't expect it to be so powerful this early. What a pity this isn't a smelliblog!


In fact there's blossom bursting out all over the University...

Though I have to say, I think this is a bit lurid!

Down by the School of Museum Studies, the cherry blossom is out.


And, if you look carefully, you can just see that the Magnolia is about to strut its stuff.

But we're going to have to wait a bit for my favourite: the Rowan (Mountain Ash) two of which flank the entrance - it's always a bit late, but as magnificent as any cherry blossom, and then there are all those wonderful berries which make a great almondy white wine.

Weasels are weasily identified...

...because stoats are stotally different!

This morning, on my way to work, a weasel shot across the road in front of my car.

I say a weasel, but it might have been a stoat - I'm never completely sure about the identification. Oh, I know about the brown/chestnut, the white tail end, the turning white in the Winter (mostly up North) but as they flash by in front of you, it's almost impossible to tell.

This is not my picture. I wasn't equipped at the time, so I've borrowed one from Bedfordshire's flora and fauna (pic, Steve Blain) http://bedsflorafauna.blogspot.com/2008/04/weasel.html

I hope they don't mind too much. Go and have a look at their great blog.

Likewise this pic of a stoat is borrowed from It's Nature
http://www.itsnature.org/ground/mammals-land/stoat/

Still, whichever it was, it was my first of the season.

Photograph © Steven Cheshire 2009 - www.britishbutterflies.co.uk

Over the lovely warm weekend, there were Brimstones in the garden - always the first butterflies to make themselves obvious in our area.

Me (above) and other mad people collecting. I draw the line at the silly hat.

Meanwhile, we were busy collecting for Marie Curie Cancer Care at a local garden centre - the Mothering Sunday Weekend is always the best time to collect at a garden centre. The Great Daffodil Collection is coming to an end; Marea has organised all her collections and, hopefully, we will have raised a decent sum. Her target the year is £540,000. By the way, if you're buying off ebay and using PayPal, you can donate as you complete your purchase - £1 each time. Go on; you know it makes sense