Spring is definitely in the air and the prunus is in full bloom. It stands at the corner of our front drive so the whole street can enjoy it.

The cornus are at their best at this time of year and they are also in the front garden, adding lots of colour.

Another view from the front then we'll wander into the back garden.

The pigs were getting overtaken by the bluebells so I've moved them to a new spot for a while. The squirrels like them here because they can sit on them as they munch whatever they've taken from the feeders or even use them as a set of steps to get up to the feeders!

This mahonia is self seeded and hides in a corner but the flowers are too pretty to ignore.

I was quite surprised to see that the hyacinths are starting to flower (early Feb). Much earlier than usual but always welcome as they are such pretty flowers.

The heather's doing well this year, adding a nice splash of colour on this side of the garden.

There are a few crocuses around and the snowdrops have spread well over the last few years so they put on a really good show now.

There are a few daffodils here and there as well, both front and back.

One or two other shrubs are trying to give the spring flowers a run for their money.

The helebore is one of my favourite flowers to photograph, especially pointing the camera upwards to get the light through the petals.

The cyclamen might be small but they are still very pretty and provide spots of colour around the garden.

The sedum is starting again. This is one of the hardest working plants in the garden. No sooner have the flowers faded than it starts to bud up again.

The primroses / primulae are also pretty at this time of year but you can see that the weather is taking its toll.

It's been really windy and when it's rained it's really meant business!

The skimmia japonica is also growing well. It was tiny when I first planted it but seems to have become established now.

Lots of leaf life around the garden and, as you can see, we'd had rain not long before I strolled around this time.

The sarcococa (I think that's spelt right) might not look dramatic but it's the sweetest smelling shrub in the garden at this time of year.

The red robins always add lots of lovely colour to this side of the garden. To think I thought I'd lost this one a few years back so cut it right down and now it's flourishing.

I've found a home for my eucaplyptus prunings so next time I have a go at trimming it back I know what to do with them.

It's not often you can see this bench from the house end of the garden - the hardy fuchsia usually hides it.

It won't be long before the little curved bed will be full of forget me nots, wallflowers (if the squirrels haven't dug them all up) and nigella. For now, this is a fairly quiet part of the garden.

I managed to get the pampus cut back a bit so I can get down this path now. The wind has really battered the fronds this year so I have to go out regularly to but off the damaged ones.

More leaf pictures!

The onions are planted and the canes are there to try and stop the blackbirds playing with them. The caulis look better in the photo than in real life - been a bit too wet for them this year. The broad beans have been hammered by the wind and rain so I'll wait to see if they rally or if I need to start again.

My shed's really coming together now with its new roof (fibreglass), double glazed windows, water butt and all painted. Just the flooring to be installed now and that's already arrived so Terry will be in next week to fit it. People might say "it's just a shed" but it's my shed!!!

That's it for this time - more next month.

 

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