The last week has really begun to feel like spring, there is real warmth in the sunlight, and the buds of the cherry plums and willows have burst, giving us a taste of what the season has in store....
A walk in my shirt-sleeves a few mornings ago yielded a blackbird bathing at the edge of Washbrook stream, splashing with abandon, and celandines turning their faces to the morning sun on the bank. Further on a warm sandy south-facing bank was thick with violets…. I watched two bees busily visiting every flower, whilst little workmanlike spiders hunted beneath the leaves. Passersby must have wondered what I was up to, on my knees staring closely at the ground with an expression of delight on my face!
I have seen sooo many ladybirds about in the last day or so, a box plant against a sunny wall had about eight basking in the uppermost branches - mostly seven-spots, but also one Harlequin. These are a more robust introduction from Asia that is spreading with frightening rapidity. If you're interested in helping with this problem, you can contribute to a countrywide survey which is being done - go to this website for further details: http://www.harlequin-survey.org/
In the garden things are really starting to take shape, some of the specimen trees arrived today, including the young apple trees, which are all varieties which have been grown in Suffolk historically. There is also a black poplar to be planted in a damp corner of the garden. This is a native tree which due to its rather specific habitat requirements has become very rare in Britain, so we're proud of our tree!
The landscapers (All Seasons Landscape Specialists) have been fantastic throughout the building of the garden, taking every obstacle in their stride... It is the home straight now for them, the last bits of bed preparation and finishing off to do. I and my team of volunteers will shortly be getting stuck into planting the garden up, which looks like it may be a mammoth task - I look forward to the moment when I can stand back and think, It's finished! (If that's ever the case with a garden!)