Spring is definitely here though the weather is still cold and wet. But the flowers are opening and warming the heart. My favourites are primroses. They grow in the banks of our hedgerows. The first ones we saw were on the 14th February, but these were a bit battered by the hail showers we’ve been having. The ones below were photographed on the 19th February and are in a bank below some lovely old, wizened hawthorns on the edge of our hill field.
In the garden, the crocuses are opening and today our first daffodil opened fully.
In the polytunnel, we have planted our early potato crop – the variety is Charlotte and we can usually harvest them in May. They will be small but delicious! The second lot of broad beans I sowed (the first ones were eaten by a mouse!) have germinate and are just starting to grow. I’ve leave them in pots for a couple of more weeks before planting into the tunnel. In the greenhouse, I’ve sown some radish and early lettuce, a few kohlrabi and early cabbages in seed trays. We’ll see how they all go.
In the wood things are moving too. I spotted these badger prints a couple of weeks ago. Badgers don’t live in the wood but every so often we will find footprints on the muddy bits of the track, where they have been passing through.
And a sure sign of spring – the frogs have returned to spawn in the drain below the chicken field. It is always the first place they spawn. They will return to the pond in the next few days. It will be interesting to see if they will use the new pond, which lies between the drain and the existing garden pond. The photo isn’t great. I haven’t been able to sneak up on the frogs yet – without them all diasppearing under the surface of the water – but the picture will give you an idea of the amout of spawn. Each clump of spawn represents what one female has produced. There are about 50 clumps – that is 50 female frogs. And for every female frog there will be a male mating with her – that is 100 frogs in this little bit of drain. It’s pretty impressive!
Spring, blessed spring.
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Oh, it is so nice to see your spring flowers (and frog eggs!) as we are still in the depths of winter. Yesterday, my spouse brought me 3 bunches of daffodils that came from Ireland, so I knew your flowers were blooming! They’ve opened beautifully, so I am enjoying a bit of your Irish spring!
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So glad you can enjoy the daffodils too despite still being in the depths of winter!
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You are definitely ahead of us. The primroses look pretty sturdy – does the hawthorn protect them in some way? And the badger paw prints are so clear – beautiful.
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Yes, the primroses are on a lovely high bank and sheltered by the hawthorn – should have posted the photo really so you’d get idea.
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By gum you are like a wild life tour in a blog. Fab facts about vagabond badger and frogs habits! Thank you sweetie.
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Any time Miranda!
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Love your primrose and crocus but you can keep the badgers and the newts. 🙂 We have a trip planned for this May and then we’re hoping to get to Ireland next. 🙂
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They are all part of the web of life. Hope you have a great trip to Ireland.
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Happy Spring! I’ll be visiting my parents on Lough Cara at the end of March and I can’t wait to see all those signs. We’re still buried under 2 feet of snow here and more on the way. But can’t complain. Today I snow shoed through the silent snowy woods, discovering numerous animal tracks, and caught a glorious sunset.
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Lough Cara is beautiful. Had a walk around Moorehall just the other week – hope do so post on it. Your snow shoe walk sounds magical.
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Crocus!!! What I would give to see a crocus in my lawn right now! Of course, I can’t even *see* my lawn since it’s still cover with a foot of snow. *sigh*
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We’ve actually had snow here today too – enough to make a snowman, but it’s melting already. That’s the type of snow we get here. Hope the thaw comes soon!
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Spring is trying to come. The days clear and sunny and nights freezing. Seemsome signs buds on the trees swelling.. It is nice to see spring flowers again.
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Even here spring is still battling with winter – as we’ve actually had snow today!
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Last week snow was predicted for this week.
The nights are enough but no moisture.
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Beautiful!!! Oh my, you must be skipping all over through your fields with spring flowers aglow!
We are under snow + cold temps, but spring will be here soon. I can’t wait to see a crocus! Thank you for sharing your lovely spring pictures:-) It gives me hope!
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What a nice post…spring..
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Thank you:)
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