Signs of Spring

This clematis has gone from strength to strength. It now covers half the railing and is reaching for the sky  

  

These dwarf irises were a gift from a local gardener - ugly but kind of beautiful too.

Still gardening

A day to move plants around  

Moving plants

 

Protecting the lupins from rabbits. 

And some work on the metal bridge.

Gardening and modelling

I spent the morning gardening. Weeding, moving plants around and laying more membrane to cut down on the weeding.  The tree saplings are coming on nicely    

Trees

And it looks like a good year for figs.  

I have two bridges in progress in the layout - a stone viaduct for the canal and a metal bridge for the local line..

It's not all gardening...

There are jobs to do in the house too. Apart from replacing the firebricks in the woodburner i have had to work on the shower cubicle.  The plastic inserts that fit between the rollers and the glass have disintegrated over time. One door actually fell off when Jack opened it. Replacement larts were not available so i had to create new fixings. Using plastic washers and chrome dome head screw caps i have created an acceptable solution.

Old fitting at the top, temp. solution at the bottom

New fittings

I also pressure washed the low front walls which get covered in road grime. 

Still growing strong

It has been very quiet in the garden. The grass is getting cut but not much else is happening. There has been a lot of catching up since our return and a daily routine in the garden hasnt happened.  But there is still food out there...

Leeks, rhubarb and the daffodils too.

And things will slow down again as we are due to visit Arthur shortly.  But Spring is here.

Paths.

Making a start on getting things sorted.  Paths....

Today's efforts

The pond needed a Spring clean so on with the waders. 

Before

After

It's a start.  My main task at the moment is creating the photo album for the trip.

Back in the saddle

After our long break in Australia ( see www.travelsdownunder2017.blogspot.co.uk) we are back and trying to get ahead of the backlog. After the mail and the email the garden comes next. 

So grass cutting is the first priority and Kate has started on the weeding. 

The magnolias have done well, this Stellata is the only one in the ground and seems to have survived the winter well.

Another task will be planting the many saplings in the new wood area - the grass has been killed off to give them a head start.