Spring Has Arrived!

We returned from a four night break (part of it visiting Derbyshire where we had our honeymoon 59 years ago) and found that spring had truly sprung in our garden!
While we were away we visited lovely places — Carsington Reservoir, Belper Riverside gardens, Buxton Park, Monsel Trail, Attenborough Nature Reserve, Wollaton Park, Chatsworth Garden Centre. Adding up the miles we did a fair bit of walking for a pair of wrinklies.

The weather could not have been better. Not too hot and not too bright. Now we are in bright sunshine, bad for my eyes but lovely to see everyone looking so cheerful. And it is really great to see our garden blossoming, even if we do have a serious problem with sooty mould to deal with!

Beauty that is pure joy!

Sometimes pictures really do speak louder than words. But this is softly hushed lest the beauty fade

Death of a Bluetit

He flittered in the sunshine
And twittered in the trees.
Ate seeds with his little family
And glided on the breeze.
He gave us so much pleasure
Through weeks of winter snow,
But now we’ve found him lying dead
Just how, we do not know.
We’re grateful for that little life
That brought us so much joy,
A short life but a worthy one
That death cannot destroy.

The Open Door

The Open Door. A good title for a short story. Unfortunately, I am not in the mood for writing yarns. The washing is in progress and we have a dog to look after. She belongs to my son and his wife. They will be here tonight and our duty will be relieved. We love that Border Collie but she is a handful. She has developed a sure habit of getting attention. Howling!
She likes to look out of the window or sit by the open door, hoping to see movement — squirrels, or occasionally — a rabbit! Squirrels can climb trees but rabbits can only run and dive down holes!
I saw a bee on the garden steps. Was it dying? I put some flowers close by and it moved slightly. I found flowers almost hidden, broke them off and put those near the bee. It showed interest by crawling inside one flower and then another. I left it to it. Had I helped it to recover? I like to think so.
It is lovely to be able to have the door open. Nothing like fresh air!

Birds and Bees

Sunshine and the bees are buzzing, birds are singing and a soft wind blowing. All is tranquil. The rain has done wonders in the garden — such abundance! Feel good — domestic chores done! (well almost!)
Maybe time to do some serious writing this week?

The Flowers That Bloom In The Spring Tra-la!

Just to be out among the spring flowers after the cold winter is a great joy! In fact, just to view them through the window is uplifting. More birds are around too — a great variety. Wonderful singing when all is quiet. So many bees buzzing too. The whole garden is full of activity and yet there is also a blessed stillness.
What matters age? The beauty of nature is for all to enjoy. And a garden keeps us fit!

New babies in our garden

We have a few nests in our garden, most are out of reach as regards viewing nest activity. But it was wonderful to discover a pair of thrushes nesting in a thick prickly bush out of reach of cats and falcons. We saw one chick leave the nest today. The rest are now gone but we have seen the parents busy gathering food. I think they must be in a neighbours garden now. I'm glad we have more room to move in our 'home' — that nest was bursting!
It is pleasing to know thrushes are surviving despite 'accidents' they seem to suffer at regular intervals. Flying into windows is the most common. Considering we have cats and birds of prey in the area, and the vulnerability of any bird, let along the chicks, it is remarkable that they continue to thrive.

Welcome to our garden in April.

Rain has fallen at last so no watering to do. However the weeds are now shooting up. Some I allow, especially in a small corner which is quite wild and full of wild flowers according to season. The rhododendrons are now coming out in all their glory. Unfortunately, we have had to cut out some well established ones in the front garden due to disease, but we are filling in the huge gap with other shrubs and trees. I thought I would put a few photos here of our back garden — the wild corner, side path and part of the border on the other side. The mason bees have set up home again in part of the lawn under the big oak tree. Birds are busy feeding their young and squirrels never fail to amuse us. A year or so ago, I watched one play with a stick like a dog!

Spring Has Arrived

It is a glorious sunny day today and so I took the opportunity to take photographs of the garden.
Soon we will be able to take photos of the new Laurel and Hardy statue being erected in a revamped County Square of Ulverston. Apart from the statue, engraved into slate flagstones are all the films the couple made. I f you don't know already, Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston. There is a small museum dedicated to their film antics and a pub named after this town's famous son. I doubt Stan ever thought of such fame when he lived in Ulverston. Other famous people lived in Ulverston, including Sir John Barrow, but tourists would have to climb Hoad Hill to have their photo taken beside his monument — it is built in the shape of Eddystone lighthouse, appropriate for a man of Naval history.

Wrinkly Writer
Magpies Nest Publishing
My Space/Gladys Writes