April showers

Well, we certainly got the rain.  It's supposed to have been the wettest April on record, although it didn't feel quite that bad here.  Early April saw showers and chilly sunshine; last week it turned distinctly wet and it has been much like that since.  Still rather cold; the T-shirts have stayed firmly in the drawer and are only allowed out in the company of a cardi.  We had a few frosts overnight earlier in the month; fingers crossed for the plum tree, although the blossom seemed to last well enough.  More night frosts are forecast for the coming weekend.  Last weekend was also very windy and there are still ash twigs all over the garden.

The daffodils are now past (must get round to deadheading them), and the last of the tulips in flower.  The blue camassias are also out.  The new chaenomeles is blooming well; I was a bit doubtful about the colour (peach) but it's quite pretty.  The clematis I planted with it as a companion doesn't seem to be doing anything, though. That may not be a bad thing as the chaenomeles is still very small!  The deciduous viburnum (carlcephalum) is coming out, or at least the back part of it is; I had to cut off a branch last year as it was diseased, and another branch is going the same way this year.  The disease, whatever it is, seems to be based right at the bottom, so the whole thing is probably not long for this world.  Must take cuttings once it has flowered.  On the plus side, the apple cordons are flowering well; the freestanding trees, having been rather hard-pruned rather late, are still thinking about it.

Coming along nicely are the wisteria, which will be in flower soon, and the aquilegias.  Still waiting for the lily of the valley to flower - can't be long now.

The veg plot is well behind schedule - it has been either too dry or too cold and wet to do much.  Last year's broccoli plants have been mostly eaten by the birds; I thought it was the pheasant until I spotted a pair of wood pigeons balanced precariously on top of two of the remaining plants.  Obviously strong stems aren't necessarily a good thing!

The wildlife interest lately has been the antics of the baby blackbirds (3) and thrushes (2).  One baby thrush was spotted chasing a male blackbird in the hope of being fed, until its parents took it in hand. There are still a few of last year's apples in the garage and the damaged ones have been much appreciated by the harrassed parents as a quick snack to keep the youngsters quiet, and the rain has helped them a lot too - much easier to find worms and snails. 

The pheasant has been less in evidence in the past week or so; he has been gradually becoming less agressive as his ladies have peeled off to nest or whatever they do, although he still tries to show off to me from time to time.  The two partridges are still around; no sign of her going off to nest yet.

Who's a pretty boy then? - The pheasant trying to impress me

Otherwise it's the usual birds, though the goldfinches have been more in evidence this month.  The first sightings of a couple of swallows at the end of the month; they must be finding it a bit chilly.

The other wildlife event is indoors; a mouse has got into the cellar, probably while the cellar door was open for ventilation.  A humane trap has been put down, although it isn't having any effect yet!