Mid April and most of the tulips are already open. The golden globes of Tulipa sylvestris were pipped to the post by a lone T kaufmanniana in March, but only just. The daffodils are mostly gone over now. Plum blossom drifts gently to the ground when there is a whisper of a breeze, the next wave of cherry and pear blossom have taken centre stage with the clotted Blackthorn in the hedgerows.
I have two double tulips this year, David Tenniers and the yellow Monte Carlo both from Broadleigh Bulbs. I’d put David Tenniers on the mauvey rather than reddy colour range Anthraciet was more reddy blackcurrant. Maybe one day I’ll have beautifully co-ordinated pots of tulips rather than a random mix, with in this case, the last of the highly scented Narcissus Sweetness interrupting the overall look.
A swathe of Narcissus poeticus planted by previous owners seems more abundant than last year, a lovely wash of white running through the wilder woody bit at the far end of the garden. This is the woodbed at 6:30 this morning the chickens having complained loudly enough to be let out to get me out of bed.
Saw swallows in Melksham last week and a lone swallow yesterday over the garden. Nature’s Calendar is showing them starting to emphatically spread up the country over the last few days. The weather is cool but sunny which is I guess ideal.
Two ducks are running a creche in the still waterlogged field opposite. The drakes are starting to bother them and one little fluff ball got left behind temporarily yesterday while mum shrugged off the drake’s attentions, you can see just how vulnerable they are to predators.
On Friday I came home to a dead Carrion Crow by the chicken fence, it had a bloodied head and a small scattering of feathers, did it hit the electric fence, did something attack it? I don’t think our elderly cat would have taken on such a bludgeoning beak.
Tipping out old pots left behind by the previous owner yesterday I find I’ve been harbouring vine weevils but also found a large gold toad behind the pots.
More seeds to be sown including squashes and watermelon.