SPRING - busting out in the garden

 A walk down the garden on wednesday evening showed spring had arrived in a rush.  These are the pictures I took and it was lucky I did because by the next day this dwarf cherry had as good as finished flowering.

   After a winter that really feels as though it has gone on forever it was lovely to see the leaves of the Acers  breaking bud and the spring flowers and bulbs all aroundthe garden.   

 The drumstick primulas that we planted last year have survived all of last summers rain and are welcome colour against the mud at the edge of the pond.

Golden marsh marigolds - both single and double varieties.

One of my favourites 
SNAKES HEAD FRITILLARY

I like the colours and the checkerboard pattern of the flowers.

The stems almost seem to frail to support the flowers.

  

 Bluebell flowers beginning to emerge.

A frog by the pond - we are hoping that the frogspawn we were given has hatched and we will have a garden of frogs again. 

GLIMPSES OF SPRING

With the first day of spring only two days away we went in search of signs it might be on it's way.  The winter has felt so long and although I have enjoyed curling up in front of the log burner now I am eagerly waiting for the warmer days to arrive.

We went to Fowlmead, a country park created on the site of Betteshanger Colliery, it has been a while since we were there last and we wanted to see if the plants and wildlife had developed further.  To be honest unless you wish to cycle around it midweek is, the best time to visit as it is promoted as the perfect place for family cycling.  http://www.kentrigs.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=21

This play area for children is new and includes a zipline and all kinds of slides, slopes and climbing equipment.

 The first of the ponds still has a green tinge to the water and apart from the reed bed around the edge no visable plants or waterbirds.  Just beyond the parks boundries there is marshland and ducks, lots of ducks.

The first flowers we saw.  I don't think they are true primroses.

Looking across dykes and farmland in the direction of the sea.

 A fallen log becomes a thing of beauty and decay.  And the last pond we came to is the only one which shows sign of supporting life.  The highest pond on site which claims to have great creasted newts always has a very bleak look to it.

Pines and conifers on the shale - not as much sign of squirrel activity on this visit.

Promising location for lizzards and other wildlife.

            SWELLING BUDS

 

 We were near the end of our walk before we found the violets.

Blue skies looking to the east.

BIG KENT WEEKEND

It is the BIG KENT WEEKEND.  This weekend 17 and 18 of march more than 120 attractions have donated tickets. We have tickets to EMMETTS GARDENS near Sevenoaks. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/emmetts-garden/
I was a little worried that it may be a little early in the year to see much.  There is really not that much sign of life in our own garden (the ornamental cherries are just showing signs of bud) but we are on the top of a hill and often have a late start.

soon to be a mass of colour

There was so much already in bloom.  And the promise of more to come - like the carpet of bluebells throughout the woodland walk.  This is not a grassy bank just masses and masses of bluebells.

 The plants were clearly labelled.  I do like to know what I am admiring and as I am often too lazy to write names down being able to get clear pictures is very useful.


There were also lots of interesting stumps, rocks and fallen trees.  All of which I love.

The shapes are the kind of sculpture I would love to have.  And as a couple of years ago I finally learnt to draw I tend to take lots of pictures of the so I can try to paint them.