A real mini heatwave! Till next Tuesday at least. 27C today,

Blue sky day today! The garden has been veritably basking in the sunshine the past few days. And so have I!  Out there morning till early evening. The patio window open, and the summerhouse with doors fully extended.....And me, I love the feel of cool grass under my feet.      

 Well, I discovered on or two things today........
Just underneath  the ledge of the patio table, I spotted a miniature cocoon, when I pushed my chair back hundreds of newly hatched tiny spiders took exception  to the vibrations and descended on gossamer threads! They didn't do anything, and once I had settled down  to eat my lunch, they scuttled back up again and huddled together in their spider nursery. I was fascinated.

 The next event was finding that I have two or three wild honey bees using the bee box. They were being busy too!  As I always have my camera handy, I took their photo.  

 Everything suddenly seems to be "busting out all over" as the old song goes.
So I took more pictures throughout the day as I carried on planting  sunflower seeds, and mowing the grass.
Already one or two sunflowers are pushing above the soil.  

Late afternoon. 

Cool grass under my feet

Sundown. 9.00pm

Sunset seen through the bathroom window

Glorious end to a glorious day!

Wednesday 23rd May 2012. Glorious day!!

I started the day with breakfast in the summerhouse. It was a beautiful morning with another azure blue sky. Warm, sunshine, smell of blossom and hardly any breeze. 

Later I began to work on weeding the rockery, and then found myself fascinated by a wild bumble bee, who was transporting pollen in his leg sacks, into a small hole in the soil. I watched him for ages, back and forth. Just how do they fly?! Such large bodies for such tiny wings.    

View from summerhouse 

 I spent most of the day outside, the washing dried in no time on the line. The down side being it has to be ironed!! But I hate being cooped up on a ( very rare) summer day.

My "wild patch" in the garden.

 So now, on a warm evening and friends coming to dinner, maybe it will be summer again tomorrow..........

Apple blossom. 

Finally.........maybe.......a touch of real summer. 21st May 2012

Well, for once today, we have sun!! And after the coldest, wettest April here in England since records began I am not about to miss being in the garden. Of course the rain was very much needed, but now I've  turned into a typical English person, always commenting on the weather, and yes, wondering IF the summer will unfold, or pack up and leave in short while. Nonetheless, it is a glorious afternoon, bird song from morning till dusk, and the smell of damp grass is lovely. England need 33 runs to win the game in the Test match against the West Indies at Lords. So here's hoping to a perfect ending to a day to savour!  

Monday 21st May 2012. 

Wednesday 4th April 2012 6.30am Snow!

Well would you believe it! One week on from a blast of summer-like weather, we now have a brief return to winter! Only this time it is just passing through........maybe......

So, our topsy turvy seasons continue. And Tiger, having spent all week last week basking in glorious sunshine, being outside day and night, sniffed the air at the back door and promptly turned tail to disappear upstairs and find the nearest bed to curl up on.        

 

March 28th 2012. 5.20pm. 21C outside. Another glorious day!

Our Miniature plum tree has begun to blossom.

Well, I cannot ever remember the end of March being so beautiful, and so warm! But I took the photos as the temperatures are set to tumble by the weekend and cloudy skies will reappear. A major part of the East of England is now experiencing drought conditions, with reservoirs half empty, and rivers running exceptionally low. The winter was very dry. 

So best to enjoy the spring like, more like early summer, days while they last until things return to what counts as normal, in this topsy turvy reversal of seasonal weather!

Magnolia stellata, with its star flowers. Opening today.  

Tuesday 27th March 2012. 7.08pm. 16C!

5.00pm Tuesday 27th March.

April is around the corner, and already the buds are beginning to unfurl. We have had glorious weather since the weekend, and it was 20C here today, with a clear blue sky.  

Here's a quote from one of my favourite poems

April Rise. by Laurie Lee

Blown bubble-film of blue, the sky wraps round 

Weeds of warm light whose every root and rod
Splutters with soapy green, and all the world
Sweats with the bead of summer in its bud.

If ever I heard blessing it is there
Where birds in trees that shoals and shadows are
Splash with their hidden wings and drops of sound
Break on my ears their crests of throbbing air.

Early evening light. 

Spring is springing!

Now, as the almond burns its smoking wick, 
Dropping small flames to light the candled grass; 
Now, as my low blood scales its second chance, 
If ever world were blessed, now it is.

Spring is officially here. The clocks have been moved forward one hour. March 25th 2012

Well it really feels like spring this past few days. Yesterday, the 24th March, we were at the home of one of our friend's in the afternoon. There is this magnificent magnolia tree in full bloom. 

As it was around 19C we all sat outside in the garden. Our friend's daughter was having a fund-raising event, and as people came and went, eating the lovely cakes and downing tea, coffee and various assortments of soft drinks, it was more like a summer Garden Party. We all sat outside.      

The forsythia next door to our house, is a glorious bright yellow, and as we have not had much rain lately, it has not been spoiled by having it's blooms battered about! In fact it still feels like early summer today. Makes everyone more relaxed and shed the winter layers of clothing, to don the lighter weight attire of warmer days and longer evenings.As I write this the clock is striking seven, and the sun is still shining outdoors. British Summer Time officially began when the whole nation altered it's clocks last night. 

To quote the old saying: "Spring forward

                   Fall back.".......... 

to help us remember to put them on one hour in Spring and back an hour in the Autumn.   

    

 And by our front porch the climbing hydrangea is wakening.

And, as the fund-raiser was for a trip to Borneo, to help, amongst other things with a local village, there was a great cake topped by an orang-utang! 

Priceless! 

Good day all round.