Frog spawn

As I have mentioned before, it has been a most strange year as regards frog spawn. We saw the frogs mating a month ago but there was not sign of spawn. The suddenly, a couple of days ago some spawn appeared. Now there is even spawn in one of the water features.

Blue Tits

The Blue Tits are bringing materials to nest in the nest box on one of our Ash trees. They use it every year.

Some early April flowers

Cowslips

I am fortunate enough to be in England now that April’s here.


Sweet Violet

O, to be in England
Now that April 's there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now!
Robert Browning – “Home Thoughts, from Abroad”


Narcissi


Veronica (Speedwell)



Wood Forget-me-nots


Maple foliage (Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’)



A marvellous Tulip



And not forgetting a liverwort – Marchantia polymorpha

Pensby flowers

Some of the flowers currently enlivening the garden.


And is there a more fresh green that that of newly erupting weeping willow leaves.