What a beautiful day......

Working in the garden today was indeed a pleasure. Temperatures reached 16C (63F), one of the warmest days so far this year.

I cleared some of the winter debris from the woodland walk. This is a favourite area of mine. When I planted the trees, shrubs, bulbs etc eight years ago, I had a vision and I must say it is the only part of the garden that has turned out exactly as I wanted.

I wanted something natural.......delicate........and a place that reminded me of my childhood. I spent a lot of time as a little girl walking woodland with my parents. I have many beautiful memories and this little spot in my garden transports me back to the days that I cherish.

Maple leaves are opening ......they add colour and texture.

Daffodils are in abundance......

Don't ask me the name......a bag full of bulbs, planted on the spur of the moment when we first moved here. She is pretty, isn't she?

I love the softer colours........there is something so timeless about them.

I was uncertain about the pink trumpet, but she is growing on me, I am learning to love her.

But this is my absolute favourite......each time I look at this bloom, I am stilled.

Fritillary dot the area. They do not last long, as soon as the rabbits spy them they will disappear........they are but fleeting.......

Lords and Ladies are in abundance this year. I choose to leave them, I love the flower spike that appears in April/May and then the stand of beautiful red berries in the autumn.

Ramsons are in leaf.....another favourite wildflower. I am hoping this will increase each year and carpet small areas.

Despite rabbit damage, hellebores are blooming.

Each step I take, I notice the changes.

This bud should burst in the next few days.

As I started to clear my tools I noticed the torn and tattered peacock butterfly. She survived the long and cold winter.

Isn't she just beautiful......I am glad she found shelter in the garden.

How would you feel?

How do you see your garden? How do you think other's view it? I see mine as a mini nature reserve, wild and unkept around the edges.......

I can see beauty in most flowers, and the changing seasons.

A tiny insect inside a bloom fascinates me, and I can spend many moments just studying the little creature.
I like my photographs to show the romantic in me.

I love the thought that I may one day walk into the copse and find a woodmouse sitting on the toadstools.

I like all things mystical and magical.......and have much hidden in secret places.

BUT how would you view my garden if you came to visit? Have I created an illusion by showing you my garden as I see it? After all I tend to live in a dream world.

Walking back to the house and the noise of the plane broke the spell I was under.......and brought me very much back to reality.

How would you feel if fellow bloggers came to visit your garden? Would you worry that they would be disappointed?

Tku Gail.....I enjoyed your post today and it made me think.

Sunday safari

I carefully took the mason bees from the shed and placed them in the garden. I do hope they have survived this long and cold winter.

Nature at times, can be cruel. The squirrel has been busy.

Rooks are busy raising their nests. Countryfolk tell of a long hot summer.

As the day came to an end the euphorbia looked pretty dancing in the sunlight.
A lone bee enjoyed the blooms........nearly time to go back to her nest.
Dicentra are appearing along the woodland walk.......they are looking healthy.
Walking back to the house I noticed a small bird on the lawn. At first I thought it was a sparrow.

The black head told me that it was not. I love the markings on his back. Oh my, a new to me species.

I rushed inside to find my RSPB book........how excited am I.

It's a Reed bunting. I have never seen one in the wild. He has been feeding with the sparrows. This, for me, is the cream on the cake. I love my garden, but I love what visits more.
And finally, thank you to Lisa at Greenbow. I love the bookmark. Such a surprise when I went to the post box yesterday. I shall, without doubt, use it for my garden journal. Lisa, you are so very kind. How did you know I love glass beads?

The grandchildren stayed yesterday and today. We hunted for eggs and had a special breakfast. A trip to the seaside (Hastings) was fun. We watched the angry sea splash onto the pebble beach....we laughed a lot. A fish and chip tea was great fun, and so very 1960's. The little cafe has not been updated. The food was good, the owners gentle and polite. I had a wonderful day.....

Happy Easter Sunday........have you had a lovely day??

Sunday safari

For the moment, winter has lost her grip on the garden. I am beginning to see things more clearly.

My journey with the garden is an unknown path. I am a dreamer by nature, I have dreams.

With time, I shall put my dreams in place, and live with the rabbits in peace and harmony.

To my way of thinking, a garden is about enjoyment, being at one with nature, somewhere to go to take away the stress that enters our lives.
I am learning, I am growing, I am thinking differently.

I am looking forward....looking forward to mid-summer and seeing the garden before me.
I am appreciating the little things.....sometimes we pass them by.

They come but for a fleeting moment........it is good to stand and stare.

Life in the garden, is all that is good.......

Who am I to judge what can and can't reside here.......

Happy Sunday safari......

Rabbits and flowery meads.

Limiting myself to plants disliked by rabbits is no easy task. I went to a 'new to me' nursery yesterday....how many times did I pick up a plant, only to put it back. None-the-less I am determined to make this work........rabbits and me in the garden living happily together.

I have decided to have flowery meads around all large trees in the garden. Today I added plants to the area around the old apple tree.....spring flowers.

woodland primroses.......

spring snowflake.......

pulmonaria........

puschkinia scilloides........I have also added native ferns. Many of these plants were used during the medieval period.

Tomorrow I shall remove the turf and plant around the maple tree. Poppi and Riley's meadow........camomile, creeping thyme, and alpine strawberries. At the height of summer can you imagine my two little grand-children sitting amongst the camomile and thyme picking tiny alpine strawberries.......

If you have a moment would you like to come and see what I found by chance today. Please shut the gate behind you.

This sweet hellebore is blooming by the entrance to the warren. I really can't believe it.....do you think the rabbits have taken up gardening as a hobby!!!

BTW Nella has caught several rabbits during the last few weeks. I also have a fox visiting. Numbers are dropping slowly........