More pretty

So it turns out springtime is even prettier than winter. We've gone from frosty gardening in two sets of socks and gloves to sunblock and sweating ... the routine of leisurely breakfast, garden until lunch, craft in the afternoon might have to change. If the sun's out it gets a bit warm by 11, and it's still only a fairly cool spring. 

Luckily you have to stop every three minutes and stand and admire something. Or just stand, and look around. Or chat to the little birdies, especially the tiny wrens and fantails and thrushes that like to pick over what you're digging. It's not a strenuous business, gardening. 

Mostly we have been mowing, now that the ride-on is back from the shop. I despair at the state of the lawn, then we mow it, and the weeds magically disappear. Up close the lawn is very patchy but from a distance? Mostly fine. 

I have tried to remediate a couple of patches - till, feed, seed - then covered one with chicken wire to stop the birds eating the seed and one with sugar cane mulch, which apparently has the same protective role. I do not think it does, but it's too early to tell, and I like an experiment.

We have heaps and heaps more tulips in the south bed of all different colours. We're going to note where they are and plant more where they are not. 

The trees down by the middle fence are covered in AMAZING blossoms. Just a big sea of fluffy pink, it's extraordinary. The camellias are keeping on giving and giving, the strawberries are still alive and even the buddleia we coppiced is showing signs of life.

Dad, I don't know what you're going on about, those apples were plastic. Were you casting aspersions on my nascent pastel skills? RUDE