The robins fly past

Just leaving spring and coming into summer. Consider what a year this is - the start of summer, very often a blue sky and the sun beaming down on us - and then the clouds head in on the wind and the snow arrives ahead. Not what you would expect at this time of year, certainly not what I expect but it's been going on for a day or two now and I'm asking myself how much longer this will go on. Will we actually see summer or will the weather skip by, passing autumn as well and bring in winter before we can blink.

Last year I planted Scots Pine and it was a lovely year but despite all the care and attention they passed away, every single one of them. The Austrian Pine are in this year and really looking good - will they make it, will they survive, will the year-long snow be more natural for them? Hopefully, I'll get the right answer.

And the food for the birds, a small mistake there I here you say. Well, I think that you're right. The sparrows continue to pick at it but that is all they are doing I'm afraid, they pick at it, they play with it and they get bored or hungry and then move on. The robins fly past now, on their way to wherever is more interesting. I'll think about this and do what I can for them.

Perhaps they will stop in passing.

Perhaps Shetland will warm up a little ;))

Early Gardening

I've just been around the garden and the willows actually have a chance. I pruned them back a bit because the very top of both was a bit iffy but we'll see.

Both of the black hawthorns are a surprise, a real surprise. One of then was just a stick and the other was a dead stick but in a week they've made a good difference and are coming on a treat. I don't know if it's the temperature or the sunlight but they're doing well.

The Austrian Pine are a mess, they are a disaster.The black viola's are going to take over if the pansy's, which are doing quite well, don't beat the pines first. The dead Scot's Pine is doing better than the Austrian ones. There are a couple that might live to tell the tale but.......

What a surprise

What a huge surprise. What a huge, massive surprise. Since I raised my head this morning it snowed until about ten-thirty and I wasn't going out to plant trees in that weather. True, it wasn't lying but the snow was falling continually throughout.

Then the snow stopped falling, so I immediately put my jumper on and went out to put the trees into the garden. There was no wind, it was totally still and it was mild, so mild that the jumper that I had put on inside I promptly took off outside. How strange ;))

Anyway, I've got the trees planted and watered and must remember to water them daily. I lost last years trees and I'm blaming myself for that. I truly believe that I made too little effort. I basically dug small holes, stuck them in, watered them a couple of times and did no more.

This year will be a little different. For a start, I'll water them every day regardless of the weather. If it's pouring down with rain and blowing a horrendous gale then I'll be out there, watering the trees. After all, they're like you and me, they need a little care taken, it's not a lot for them to ask for, is it and the pleasure that I'll get from them will be worth it a million times over

So please, don't let me forget, they have to be cared for every day, regardless of what else is going on in my life :))