Neat edges

It's taken a while but now all the edges are nice and neat. I've been busy with a new pair of shears. It was a slow task as the grass had grown very long and I also had to weed as I went. Now I've just got the other parts of the garden to do!

Weather systems

We've had lots of strong winds and the temperature feels even colder than it is. Tonight the sun came out briefly and there were lines of clouds racing across the evening sky.

Wild flowers

My wild flowers that I sowed from seed last year are finally making their appearance although unfortunately they look less attractive than intended as there are now docks dying off around them! Still it's good to see that our efforts to remove the docks are having some success, hopefully we can gradually restore this permanent pasture to a species rich grassland.

Grasses

The first of the grasses is in bloom and the strong winds sweep it in waves across the big field. It's 'Timothy' grass (remembered from the distant past of my PhD) but is more poetically know as 'meadow cat's grass' and we certainly have one of those. She loves to sit for hours out in the field just watching and listening. Our cat is most definitely a loner.

Checking up

Once again we had the 'electricity' helicopter here checking the power supply (and possibly wondering where ours has disappeared to!) He flies so low it's a miracle that he can avoid the obvious hazards. Today he was very well colour matched by the field of oil seed rape behind him which has just begun to flower.

Red sky at night

Looking out the bathroom window before I went to bed tonight it looked as if the hills in the distance were on fire as the sun set in a brilliant blazing line of red. Hopefully it foretells better weather ahead.

Iris

Last year I moved a little piece of iris tuber around and around to keep it safe from the builders as it was amongst very few flowers growing here originally. Now for the first time it's flowered and I get to see what it's like, the result is that it fits in perfectly with the other plants in this front border.

Bluebells and violets

Walking home from church this morning on Rogation Sunday the bluebells are out in our lane and the cow parsley is flowering, with violets lower down if you take the time to look. I went out in the sunshine but sadly it hasn't lasted and so my decision not to take a coat seems a little rash.

Rogation Sunday is when traditionally farmers had their crops blessed sometimes by priests 'walking the bounds' of their parishes but this asking for a successful growing season probably dates back to pre-Christian times.

Blue skies

The blue sky belies the fact that this week we've had terrible weather. Two damaging hail storms, bitter north and north westerly winds and heavy rain. I can hardly bear to look at my poor battered flowers and dare not put out the more tender things like my courgettes, pumpkins and sweet peas.

Our shed's steaming!

I've heard of people having 'love shacks' in their gardens but we seem to have a 'steamy shed'! After more heavy rain the sun briefly appeared and the cart shed roof started to steam. Sadly though the gales this week have caused it to lean even more than previously.