March 31st, 2020

I am writing this on the last day of March - when we are at the close of a month that will be on record as perhaps the most disruptive that most of us will have experienced in our lifetime. 

So, I have been considering whether it is appropriate to continue with our Blog 'in the usual way', concerned that it would come across as too 'lightweight' and 'uncaring' of current circumstances. But on reflection, we wish to communicate that life and nature in the country carries on - and, in doing so, is a source of peace and strength. 
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The Weather 

The weather during March has been extraordinarily varied - we have had a temperature range of over 20 degrees Centigrade within 24 hours on three or four occasions .... leaving Oska (and us, come to that) rather confused. And we have also had a few doses of very heavy rain:

= and a couple of snow falls … quite heavy for a few hours, but then turning to sleet and disappearing:

The thing about these changes in weather is that they have been so rapid; and sometimes Oska has gone out and it has been snow and then the next day it is sunny with bursts of real warmth - but the blackthorn bursting into blossom that looks like snow ... it's quite confusing for a dog!

As ever the warmth has brought out the lizards, sometimes to just bask, but sometimes to defend territory and fight. The frogs, both little green tree frogs and the common (that's no comment on their social standing) pond frogs (very well disguised and difficult to photograph for as one approaches there is just a mass leap into the pond):

People who read this Blog will know that we are in the middle of the countryside where the range and variety of birdlife is considerable. But now, with the reduction in traffic and perhaps in 'ambient noise', the number of birds and the volume of their birdsong is noticeable. It will be interesting to see if there is a rise in the bird population overall:

Although the weather has been variable, overall it has been a mild end to the Winter, the temperature of the soil is quite high and it is damp, from the rain back in December and November. So, we reckon that growing conditions this Spring will be very good and the signs of that are all around the garden:

And because we currently, and very sadly, have no access to the plant nurseries, we have been trying to revive some stock that is a bit the worse fore wear, and have been splitting and re-planting various perennial plants - like the hellebores and hostas:

The big job for April will be to prepare the vegetable beds and to get a range of vegetable seeds in pots, ready to plant out over late April and early May - depending on the weather of course.
Some of the garden projects we had planned are on hold, as we cannot get the materials we need at the moment. But we have set up the 'prototype' for our fountain in the big pond and it is working well, and will look and sound nice and will aerate the water for the fish and water life  -  we now just need to get some large bamboo through which to run the water spout out into the lake …. anyway, here is a view of the 'prototype'!:

Earlier in the month we had to say 'goodbye' to our old cat, Snufkin  - it was difficult, but he was almost twenty years old and it was time. As those who knew him well, he was very feisty and characterful, and we will miss him. We buried him just overlooking the pond, where he would sit in the sun and hunt unsuspecting frogs, which of course, in spirit, he will continue to do.

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Please note:
In the next week or so I will be posting on this Blog a request for people to take part in a small 'experiment'. It is connected with exploring people's ideas and feelings about the future. I would be most grateful and interested if established readers of the Blog could take a little time to participate and, if they could, show it to family and friends so that they too could participate. Thank you in advance.
​Simon
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