Tuesday 30 April 2013

Around and about the house

The Garden

Still a bit of a chill on the wind and threatening overnight frosts. Perfect for the gardening start though when the sun gets it's way.
Two nests at present, a blackbird pair have at least three nestlings and one egg, our great tits have three eggs and she is covering them with horse hair. Much the same as ducks I suppose, in that they are left all day covered, and then brooded once finished laying to ensure they hatch all at once.
No sign of the swallows or martins up here yet, not heard a cuckoo, or seen our barn owls.The sparrowhawk hasn't been back either.

We've started on our raised beds for salad stuff and a small veggie plot ready for courgettes and squash. Salad spuds are in big buckets, and the garlic and onions were planted last Autumn.
The fruit trees,well the plum and the pear are showing their blossom, the two apples just showing shoots.
Gooseberries are looking good, but not a great deal of show on the raspberries.
Had our first forced rhubarb crumble today!
Renewed all our herbs in pots as they were getting a bit past it.
The second winter on the trot has wiped out our bay tree. Not really certain that  a bay leaf adds much to the cooking, although the chefs always say put one or two in, maybe a bit more subtle than my taste!!

Our field next door is still empty of the sheep and their lambs, I hope they are back soon, the nettles and cow parsley are just rearing their heads.


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