This morning I put on my Village Magazine Editor's hat and walked through the village taking photos to cheer up the April issue. The morning mist was just clearing and although it was cold at 10.30am (I could see my breath) I could feel the sun's power. Along the grassy verges were clusters of violets - in fact white violets are more common along the village roadside than purple; I wonder if because they are unusual people have encouraged patches to spread. Where the white and purple grow together there were a few 'milk and water' violets.
Back in our garden the senior under-gardeners and Spice Girls had a jaunty confidence as they surveyed their foot-work along the garden borders.
The greenhouse has had a major spring-clean last weekend and it's all systems go for 'Veg-season 2009'.
I hoped to show you pictures of the inhabitants of the wild-life pond, but my attempts at night-time under-water wildlife photography failed miserably. I wanted to show how amazingly beneficial the pond has been for the local Common Newts - when we moved here ten years ago there was a tiny pond in the garden, one of those preformed plastic ponds in a bright shade of turquoise which I nick-named 'Barbie's swimming-pool'. After a few years we got round to digging a larger shallow pond next to it and lined both ponds with a black pond-liner. The liner extends under the surrounding garden to create an area for pond-edge planting. We moved nine newts from 'Barbie's swimming-pool' into their new 'wild' environment and bought them a Water Forget-me-not as a moving-in present, within a few days we noticed the newts had laid eggs, neatly folding the Forget-me-not leaves over to protect them. Now is the time when newts get amorous, so a trip down to the pond in the dark with a torch is rewarded with seeing them doing their flirtatious underwater dances; I was amazed to count sixteen newts in one corner of the shallow pond - it just shows how a small change to the garden can be beneficial to wildlife.
While failing to snap frisky amphibians, I noticed a movement on the far side of the water - a nocturnal huntress on the prowl . . .
Great post! Nice "walking" with you through your village.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of newts! I have found them when digging on the allotment-there are ponds in adjacent gardens. I hope yours stay safe from the attentions of the nocturnal huntress.
ReplyDeleteI love Violets they are my favorite sign of spring. My kids used to runa round and pick a big handful for me. Well they still do :)
ReplyDeleteooh what lovely pics! I feel spring in the air & it's so gorgeous. We have been laughing at my dog too as she just wanted to keep going in the garden every 5 minutes, then she comes back in wagging her tail as if to say..."spring is here mummy!!!"
ReplyDeletelol
Having a great time here in Seattle, looks like Spring is springing over there! I think although they have a similar climate they are 4 weeks behind the UK. The daffodils here haven't come out yet. I found a heritage seed company here and have bought some fantastic seeds including an old yellow podded pea variety. Will look fantastic growing alongside my purples!
ReplyDeleteThe lawn on my front garden is covered with little white and purple violets at the moment. I love them!
ReplyDeletehow great to see your under-gardeners. I was hoping to see your chickens when I returned to your blog!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to PPPs Kim and Victoria :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Threadspider - they are safe form the huntress, it's the day time foraging of the under-gardeners that is more dangerous.
Hi Spruce Hill - I can't think of a nicer gift than a big posy of violets.
Hi Julie -it seems a bit of sunshine puts a spring in everyone's step!
Hi Matron-in-Seattle - sounds like you're having a ball!
Hi Gina - sounds like a very pretty lawn.
Hi again to Alberta - the under-gardeners seem to be taking over the blog!
Love
Celia
x