The Warmer Weather.....

The warmer weather of spring has finally descended upon us and the garden felt so alive.

Walking out into the back garden I actually realised that in the past couple of weeks the garden has really taken off.

Everything seems to have had a growth spurt, it all looked so much bigger and bushier.

There seems to be a new personality taking over the garden as it grows, old nooks becoming almost hidden from view and new ones forming.

The chickens had taken to the shelter of one of the coleus plants as the temperature raised around midday, it seemed a better place for the dust bath today as it was very shady and out of the midday heat.

Two of this years ducklings have paired up, now they are on their own without parents they are spending their days under the patio where the grass is cooler and fresh water bowls always there for a swim or a drink.

Insects, birds and bees were busy on all the plants currently in flower.

Such a hub of busyness as the garden provided nectar and pollen for all her visitors.

I spent the morning out in the front garden, this has been a little neglected of late.

Doing a bit of a tidy up and spending a while sitting appreciating the shady walkway now the trees have formed a natural arch overhead.

I noticed that a couple of the calendula flowers had new flowers growing out of the old blooms.

Never seen that before, and as always I was truly amazed at what I still discover in nature.

Also an ornamental grass has signs of flowering, it has been in for four years and this will be the first season of flowering.

It certainly has been a year of first time blooming for many plants here in my secret garden paradise.

With the sun brightening up the cottage was really looking vibrant with it's new coat of paint, although I need to get moving as I want to complete the whole house with a second coat before the intensity of the summer months hit.

The old veranda posts are looking tired, but they are to be replaced over the next few months.

But even without the whole job being completed the cottage really did appear to be happily glowing nestled in this ever busy garden of mine full of birdsong and life......