"There is nothing as eloquent...

..as a rattlesnake's tail"

A Navajo Indian saying.

The fine warm weather over the weekend meant that the working party managed to get much done.  A lot of gardening was undertaken including weeding, pruning, thinning out and planting up. One major job was to tidy the sheds.  Another was to refresh the paint on the HQ shed.

The window frames get a refresh

All tidy for the time being!

The potatoes were planted up along with the barley and field poppies

The potato patch.  Desiree variety this year

The barley and poppy patch is pigeon proofed!

In the pond the first Marsh Marigolds are flowering and also White Deadnettle.  Despite best efforts the green algae is building up in the pond again.  Some barley straw has been sourced and after removing as much algae as we can next weekend we will put the straw in and hope that the magic works!

White Deadnettle

Marsh Marigold

Dwarf tulips in the grass bed

Thrift in flower also in the grass bed

In the machinery shed as the bits and pieces were taken out for sorting and cleaning we found a sea of woodlice all over the floor.

The sea of Woodlice

Bee species continue to increase as the weather warms up.  There were plenty about over the weekend but this one Andrena bicolor is a real stunning insect

Andrena bicolor

The Alkanet is growing quickly and is much loved by bees, including Honey Bees

Alkanet

The tree ferns are responding well to watering.  New fronds are now showing and we are hoping that by the end of next week there will be visible evidence as the fronds unwind.

New fronds appearing

Nearby the Royal Fern Osmunda regalis is also starting to move.  This fern should grow quite tall and has beautiful delicate fronds.  It does like the soil quite wet!

Osmunda regalis

The Rhubarb is responding well to being forced.  This year we have seen our best early crop of Rhubarb and hopefully we can soon harvest the first stems which will stimulate the plant to keep producing more leaves.

The forced Rhubarb

 Nearby the planted Eschalots have all sprouted and we look forward to a good crop.  This long  variety of French shallots  are the best and tastiest for casseroles.

The bed of Eschallots

The refreshed Aeolian wind organ has now been linked with decorative flags from Tibet.  These colourful flags convey hope, prosperity and happiness.

The wind organ with the flags fluttering behind

The Amelanchier  which was moved in the Autumn last year is now enjoying the new position which gives it more light. The beautiful delicate flowers appear before the leaves.  The flowers resemble a snow storm.

Amelanchier flowers

Finally with the day and night time temperatures now rising quickly it will soon be time to start sowing vegetable seeds. The last few evenings with clear skies have offered good views of the Internation Space Station as it zoomed over the school garden.  The following picture is by Dave Walker from Earth Sky

With warm Summer evenings approaching it is worth looking to the heavens to watch this amazing spectacle