No time to stand and stare

Starting to activate now sunshine has appeared I am in the throes of a manic tidying session.
My kind neighbour, Steve, has allowed me to fill his garden bin as well as my own, saving me another visit to the tip for the time being.

Yellow crocus

Seeds are mostly planted in the cold greenhouse and so far sweet peas and lupins have made an appearance and indoors the tomato seeds are also sprouting - albeit slowly. It is such a joy to see some of last year's newly-planted perennials begin to wake up - proof positive that nature, not love, conquers all. It is almost time to air the summer house cushions and prepare for balmy nights in the garden. The new cats have another two weeks before their next round of injections and only then they can be let loose on  Pablo's garden.

More spring flowers

In the allotment mountains of manure have been spread. Many more raised beds have been prepared and my International Kidney potatoes have been planted at last. The ground is beginning to warm up and soon vegetable planting can begin in earnest. Preparation for the annual Pollards Allotments plant sale on 18th May is under way and seed trays crammed with tiny bedding plants have made their appearance in the communal greenhouses.

Harrogate Spring Flower Show started today - voted the best garden show according to Which readers.
Well worth a visit, it continues until Sunday - enjoy!

Catkins

No time to garden proper this past week as two new arrivals have made their appearance - Estella and Portia - 8-month old sisters, from a cat rescue. We've forgotten what a handful young cats can be but, although only being here 7 days, they've already made a niche for themselves and wormed their way into our hearts. They are really nice with each other and, despite having lovely new beds each, prefer snuggling up together.

Their personalities have already made themselves known; Portia is extravertly friendly and likes nothing better than trying to eat my breakfast porridge, whereas Estella, the more introvert of the two and much more reserved, is really slyly mischievous and has already tried to climb up the chimney. Fun and games yesterday when the vet arrived to give them their first injections and worming. Blood was drawn - both Jean's and mine - and Estella took the huff and spent forever lying above the cooker hood, refusing all coaxing to come down.

Today, however, all seems forgotten as they vie for food and attention.

I can't wait until they're allowed out into Pablo's garden but fear for the birds..

Estella musing

Portia reflecting

Spring Has Come

Easter flowers

There is an old saying that sping has come when you can put your foot on three daisies and at The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle on Wednesday some of the lawns were awash with them. I  was always told it was unlucky to step on a daisy and in the Jubilee Park in Spennymoor as a young girl I had to tread exceedingly warily. My Aunt Bell had a lovely poem she used to recite about daisies but for the life of me I can't remember it and noone else in the family can recollect it either.

In Scotland daisies are known as bairnwort because of children's habit of using them to make daisy chains. The leaves were used in Elizabethan times as a cure for rheumatism and gout.

Ringtons vase with spring flowers

Buttercups and daisies

Oh, the pretty flowers;

Coming ere the Spring-time

To tell of sunny hours

                                   Mary Howitt