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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Mar 20, 2010 23:01:20 GMT 1
I was looking at the daffodil buds today, and they still don't look as if they are about to open! Spring must be at least three weeks behind last year, and here in South Wales. There is a little fresh growth appearing on the aquilegias and hardy geraniums now, and the primroses are regrowing some more leaves and flowers after the first ones were ruined by the last freezing cold/snowy spell. I transplanted some rhubarb crowns into the bottom of the manure heap last week, and can see some fresh growth starting on those, too. The new position should soon have that growing rampant, as it likes rich soil. I'm hoping the little wrens will enjoy the cover that affords, as they so like darting around in cover seeking insects. Have planted a few strawberry plants near the rhubarb and to hang over the little retaining wall Peter built, and I think there is a little new growth on those, too. Where there is most growth, however, seems to be with the docks and buttercups that are appearing all over the place! Typical, eh?
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Post by petdesigns on Mar 21, 2010 15:45:13 GMT 1
It's exactly the same here as you describe! Including the docks and buttercups!!!
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Post by RuthE on Mar 21, 2010 21:50:18 GMT 1
The daffs here are budding, but not ready to open. However in the next village which is on much lower ground and in a more sheltered spot they look like they will flower soon. We have 2 lonely crocuses in flower. Bluebells, grape hyacinth and tulips are all coming up through the ground but no buds yet. The lawn is a mess, it spent much of the winter frozen solid then it became totally waterlogged as we are on clay and it now has large yellow patches. I saw my first two bumblebees today.
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Post by reclaimingrebus on Mar 21, 2010 22:22:40 GMT 1
Saw my first butterfly of the year today - what I think was a small peacock, the snowdrops have flowered and so has the camellia. The sun was truly glorious today too ....
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Post by Florrie on Mar 22, 2010 9:31:43 GMT 1
things are on the move here down south, daffs are jsut in flower so is the camellia ( well just one flower so far) are there are lots of green shoots pop up so hopeful haven't lost to much oh and the birds ( robins,bluetits,blackbirds,starlings etc) are all enjoying the bird table and feeder
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Post by nicki on Mar 22, 2010 12:09:56 GMT 1
Up here in the far North the Snowdrops are just about going over, the Crocuses would be lovely if they hadn't been trampled GRRRR.
The daffs are thinking about getting around to flowering - the early ones have some buds, the later ones are just in the green.
The Ash tree still thinks it's Midwinter - it's known as the lazy tree for good reason!! It's the last in leaf and the first out!
The grass is beginning to think about growing - and the Magnolia has some leaf buds.
Good to hear how everyone's gardens are coming along...
On the bird front, the small birds are much more apparent in the hedges and trees, lots of singing and proclaiming of terrritories going on!
The Buzzards are circling and calling - and the bunnies are already chasing each other, definitely need to buy them a TV this year to distract them!!!
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Mar 22, 2010 13:23:16 GMT 1
I have yet to see either a bee or a butterfly this year, although have seen a few swarms (is that the right word?) of gnats around, and the wagtails are haunting the manure heaps and bark on the car park at LT for small insects, and seem to be having some success. That transplanted rhubarb at the bottom of the dung heap now has tiny leaves unfurling. Raining again here today, so that may encourage some more things to grow, especially if we get more of yesterday's warm sunshine? Attachments:
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Post by reclaimingrebus on Mar 22, 2010 15:50:04 GMT 1
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Mar 22, 2010 15:55:47 GMT 1
Poor bee. JRT here's hunting a large spider than disappeared under the skirting... think she's dust or something up her nose, judging by the snorting she's doing.
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Post by nicki on Mar 22, 2010 16:52:13 GMT 1
poor Bumble bee Tell May to expect a knock at the door - they're a protected species
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lindsey
Wolf Team Member
Posts: 377
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Post by lindsey on Mar 23, 2010 15:24:45 GMT 1
Poor bee Our lawn has white patches, can the frost burn the grass?
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Mar 23, 2010 21:41:08 GMT 1
When our lawn got white patches, if was the dogs piddling on it to blame, but my primroses have some very white, frosted leaves, so possibly, but I doubt it. All our grass is the right colour where it's not been churned into mud by the ponies.
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Post by RuthE on Mar 24, 2010 9:18:17 GMT 1
Poor bee Our lawn has white patches, can the frost burn the grass? Ours has yellow patches of dead grass. I think the prolonged spell of frozen ground may have killed it.
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Post by reclaimingrebus on Mar 24, 2010 10:33:01 GMT 1
my sweetwilliams are showing white leaves, it looks like lettuce that has been frozen. I think the rougher the grass the less likelihood of damage, and also the amount of waterlogging.
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Post by petdesigns on Mar 25, 2010 8:01:33 GMT 1
Oh - I've seen a couple of butterflies already as well as bumble bees
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Mar 25, 2010 21:23:37 GMT 1
My first two daffodils have finally opened today, and lots more look as if they will tomorrow or over the weekend. It is supposed to be dry on Saturday, and Dai said he, or son Andrew, will dig the holes to plant the bramley apple trees in then. There are already tiny blossom buds on those, even though they are still wrapped up in plastic bags. I hope they survive okay. Shoots spotted sprouting on the loganberry and some flower buds in the bases of some of the muscari, too.
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Post by RuthE on Mar 27, 2010 12:43:58 GMT 1
A mild and wet week here has seen lots of progress in the garden, though still quite a way behind normal for the time of year and we have more snow forecast next week. There are leaf buds on the black currant Buds on the plum tree too (nothing on the apple yet). A couple of shrubs are starting to come into leaf too: The daffs are budding, and a couple are nearly open: The grape hyacinths which are growing as weeds around the side of the house are starting to flower: Plenty of bluebell leaves, but no sign of buds yet so I think they will be a while: The first signs of buds on some of the tulips, looks like it will be a bumper year for these: This heather has been flowering most of the winter. I am not sure what variety it is, unlike most heathers it seems quite happy to grow in our very heavy clay soil. There are some pretty weeds in the lawn: The lawn itself is not doing well though, I think being waterlogged and then frozen solid for weeks on end has killed off a lot of the grass. This pic doesn't really show how bad it is but there are large dead patches of grass and I'm not sure how best to rescue it, usually at this time of year it is green and growing rapidly. The dead tree stump which can be seen to the right of the shed behind the privet hedge is the one I am going to try and grow some honeysuckle up. The honeysuckle is in a pot in the house at the moment and showing some signs of growth, I will plant it out soon but with snow forecast this week it is better off with another week inside.
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Post by armargo on Mar 29, 2010 11:55:17 GMT 1
A very slow start to Spring over here too, it is only in the last week & a half that things have really started showing signs of coming to life and now with the threat of sleet & snow this week I am dreading what effect it will have on the fields that have just started to turn green after the very hard winter I saw my first bat of the year last Wednesday or Thursday evening when I was out giving the horses their night feed ... lovely sight indeed My mother's rhubarb has sprung to life too which she is well pleased to see as she 'claimed' my rambling animals had killed it Nothing too hectic happening in my excuse for a garden yet and with the blasted cold, rain and wind here this morning I don't think it will get the 'kick of Spring' for another while yet Have earmarked a few shrubs and trees that need some serious pruning attention to tidy them up and encourage top spread but my timing is off for doing that at the moment I think (am I right, it is the wrong time of year for pruning isn't it?? ) Going to have another cuppa now before I don the waterproofs to get out and continue the timber fencing in the back garden ... I swear someone comes in at night and makes the garden bigger whilst I'm sleeping as what didn't look like a huge task has turned into a time consuming project Sheena
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Post by petdesigns on Apr 1, 2010 15:09:36 GMT 1
Thank you, Ruth! Lovely pics!!! Apart from a couple of actually flowering daffodils, the rest looks similar here, despite the cold yesterday.
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Apr 1, 2010 19:36:52 GMT 1
A really horrible, chilly day here, with hail, sleet and rain showers, but Peter must have been desperate to keep out of the way of his kids, who are on their school holidays now, as he was busy most of the day down at LT! There the rhubarb has definitely put on further growth, and there are little leaves coming on the bird cherry trees and some of the apple trees, although I am not sure what effect the cold weather will have on any blossom.
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