sunflowers

18 April 202118 April 2021

Potted on, and in the greenhouse with the beans and the parsley, a warm day so both the vents opened. Lots of bees and wasps around the ceanothus and wisteria, they’re not flowering yet but must still be an attraction. An orange tipped butterfly was out and about round the border and the nettles in the ditch. Watered the raised beds, currants and rhubarb. A group of hang glider enthusiasts circled round Hambledon Hill, mirroring the flight of the buzzards over the field. A cool start to a lovely spring day with light winds, didn’t light the woodburner.

29 March 202129 March 2021

Sheep

Grazing together in oak paddock, lower down the bank out of the strongest gusts of wind, it blew a gale all day under dark skies, the sun and a patch of blue did break through at lunchtime but soon disappeared, the hills all but hidden in low cloud. Planted redcurrants and blackcurrants and sowed mangetout seeds, all the sunflower seedlings are poking through the compost and some of the nasturtiums. Smudge is pretty much his usual self, going out and about and eating normally again. The donkeys stayed near the shelter of the stable and ate apple twigs. A cool end to the day with a promise of warmer days to come.