The Last weekend in February.  Looking back we would still be either covered with snow, enduring heavy frosts, cold or at the best heavy rains.

Not this year.  We have been enjoying a warm spell much more like late spring.  temperatures hovering around 17c, clear blue skies and bright sunshine.

So our conscience got the better of us and a weekend tidying up the garden was called for…nothing dramatic, just a bit of care and attention and getting the garden ready for spring proper.  What you could say was a spot of Spring Cleaning.

I say spring proper but there is so much already sprouting, shooting and emerging from its slumbers that it is hard to believe that this is still February.

Nor were we the only busy bee’s in the garden.  Buzzing around were a good number of Bees, Bees that should be safely tucked up in a warm communal hideaway.  But no they were out gathering what pollen and nectar they could.

Bee’s are very much in the news, as they are like other insects, are in decline. So no surprise that our local garden centre is promoting ‘Bee Friendly’ plants.  They have also thought that the Bee theme could be carried on into their Gift Shop…. Bee Hives to Bee plates and cups and everything in-between to part us from our cash…..!

Full marks for initiative.

25th February

(C) David Oakes 2019