Garden Update.

During the past two days I have spent a few hours in the garden checking for signs of life and pruning back a Clematis montana which has decided to dramatically invade my neighbours garden. I know this is not the correct time for cutting back this species and we will loose a proportion of blooms this year but if I left it alone someone else would reap the benefit!

With the suns rays shedding a little warmth on the very wet clay soil there was some life and colour to be found in an otherwise 'skeleton' looking garden. The Euphorbia has stood up well throughout the winter; various pots bursting with the green shoots of Narcissus, Tulips and Alliums hinting at the colourfull show yet to come; some Cyclamen corms left in a seed tray have flowered; new growth on the Chaenomeles 'Yuki-Goten' and not least the small clumps of Snowdrops dotted around the main border.

The Hellebores (mostly orientalis hybrids) have spread, with the help of self seeding, from one side of the path to the other. I took the opportunity to lift a few decent sized seedlings and pot them up and hope there may be some different forms for a future spring show. Below are a few of the faces I enjoy looking at.

Whilst the Robin and Blackbird made occasional forays into the garden I was delighted to capture evidence that at least one Long-tailed Tit, (four were first seen a few days ago) had decided to pay me a personal visit while I worked and kept a eye on my apparent lack of progresss! 

Another good piece of news arrived by e-mail; the National Trust at Hatchlands have decided to go ahead with a Dawn Chorus walk on 2nd May so I'll be getting up very, very early to identify the sights and sounds of our rich bird life for their vistors.  FAB.