The garden needs attention!

Looking back at last year's post for the same time I was shocked at how little I have done in the garden this spring - the same time last year I had loads of lovely flowering baskets up and everything.  

Where has the time gone?  Okay the last week or so I haven't been able to do anything because of a nasty pain flare up, but even so....

Right into the garden this week it must be!

In the meantime a few photos I took this afternoon - nothing compared to last year though.

The Rhododendrons have started flowering - but the bed they are in is looking rather cluttered and overgrown so will work on that first starting tomorrow morning all being well with the weather.

The first rose for the season has opened its bud.

A bud on another rose is stating to appear.

So the plan for the week is to get to work clearing and weeding the front garden - it really is quite overgrown and unloved at the moment.

Thursday's Garden

I don't feel much like blogging at the moment - but thought I would post some pictures today of the garden.

So okay dandelions are weeds, but they are such a lovely sunshiny colour....and our front lawn is currently full of them so thought I would take a photo of one.

This isn't a weed, but it sure acts like one!  I have to rip loads of it out each year, but it keeps coming back and is actually a very pretty purple.

The 'mock orange' I think this is.

A little bit of garden nonsense now.  We don't really have 'garden ornaments' but when my husband and I saw these in the garden centre the other day they bought a smile to our faces so home they came with us... not sure how well they will hold up in bad weather so at the moment they are currently still inside.  They may end up leaving on our front porch to protect them, but they look kind of good in the garden round the back.

A busy bee...

Friendly boy

Little Miss Sunshine

Oh and we also have bluebells in the front garden.

On another note....

I wonder why it is some people feel the need to 'take the mickey' (take the p....)  about one's accent every single time they see you?   Do they actually get pleasure out of being so rude?  Does it make them feel 'big' or better about themselves?   I bet they wouldn't like the same done to them.

Bluebells - Ashridge Estate

A pleasant afternoon was spent wandering through the woods and inhaling the wonderful scent of bluebells.

Simply a feast for the senses.

Goldfinch in the garden.

We saw a Goldfinch in our garden this afternoon - it didn't stay long enough for me to photograph it, but hopefully it will come again and bring its friends.  We hardly ever see one and I don't think I have seen one for a couple of years so it was a real delight to see.

The camellia in our garden is looking lovely.

Ashridge Estate - Bluebells

Another walk at Ashridge Estate on Friday - enjoying the bluebells that are really starting to show their colours.

The old hunters hut. no longer in use by the looks of it.

I've  borrowed my husband's camera today as it is so much lighter than my SLR Canon & lenses, so experimenting with snapping some shots with it, hence the log!

Simply bluebells.

Mark & Percy - hmmm...Percy not in focus...was taken at quite distance, but need to practice this type of shot for the best settings.

The handsome Percy

The camera is a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ200.  I have to say for ease of carrying and use, I am pretty pleased with these shots.

April in the garden.

I do love spring when after the winter the garden starts to bring forth lots of colour.  I especially like this time of the year when the Cherry Tree is blooming - it really is quite spectacular!

This is so pretty as well.

There is something about the vibrancy of spring and the colours in the garden at this time of year that really make your heart sing.