Now I know it's Spring!

We have a gardener who keeps the front garden in order for us during the period March to November. Today was his first appearance of the new season - so I know Spring is here. Having a gardener makes us seem really posh but it's easier to pay someone else to cut the grass - rather than maintain a lawn mower and a strimmer to cut a piece of grass about 30 feet by 10 feet and cut a hedge about 4 times a year. He does it far better and quicker than I can anyway. I shall be putting the Weed and Feed on it myself as I quite like doing that.

Lovely weather for ducks

I was hoping it would rain today - which sounds odd. I'd raked the lawn yesterday to get all the dead grass out of it and I wanted to put the 'weed and feed' on it. This is supposed to be done just before it rains so it gets watered in otherwise you have to do it yourself. I was just right with the timing and it started raining almost immediately the stuff had been spread on the lawn and has rained on and off for the rest of the day.

In the space of less than 24 hours the Rowan tree in the front garden has started into leaf. Wednesday when I came home from work there were no green shoots but by the time I came home from work on Thursday the leaves were clearly visible. The old nest in this tree - which is about 7 or 8 feet tall - is currently the subject of a turf war between the local blackbirds. I'm not sure why as it was formerly the home of some sparrows and I would not have thought it was big enough for the blackbirds.

Spring is sprung in this part of the world and the grass verges are starred with daffodils. We get more than our fair share of daffodils lining our country roads because farmers grow them for the bulb industry and there are always some which get left behind or thrown onto the verges. I love this time of year because everything seems new minted and fresh. The colours are more vibrant than they become later in the summer months.

Happy Easter everyone.

Feeling more settled, minutes and spring

Having finally done something about work I feel very much better, even though I probably shan't know anything for a while. I feel as though I've taken some positive action - always a good thing for me as I'm apt to react rather than act.

I spent a good half of today typing up the minutes from our team meeting yesterday. I volunteered to do them as our usual lady who does them was off. I always used to do them in my last job and I find it makes me concentrate rather than day dreaming and doodling.

Spring is really on its way - I noticed a willow tree this morning on the way to work and it was cloaked in a haze of light green. When the willows start going green it is definitely on its way. A bit further on I noticed a tree with lamb's tail catkins on it and the snowdrops are out at last as well - though in 2007 they were flowering in December rather than spring 2008! It must have been cold this winter.

Have a good weekend everyone