The Great Annual Easter Egg Hunt.

A few years ago I happened to ask my 40+ year old son if he was too old for an Easter egg hunt, You're never too old for an Easter egg hunt was the enthusiastic reply from both Scott and Lidia so now we have a hunt every year. The origional plan was just to hide a few eggs around the garden but the next comment put paid to that idea. "Is it going to be a map or clues?" So now I have to think up new clues every year, it was a bit more of a challenge this year as after all the disruption with the new fences last summer I haven't felt the same connection with the garden but in the end I came up with 16. They have a list of clues each and have a competition to see who can find the most. Usually it's Lidia, but this year they found 8 each. 

 

Excited this afternoon, my solitary bee cocoons have arrived with their very own bee house. The cocoons should hatch out in a couple of weeks. The bees return to the place they hatch to nest, so hopefully my garden and my neighbours will be full of Red Mason bees,Osmia Rufa, come summer and in future years. 

The house should be situated a couple of feet above ground level.

Doing my best to get my garden back to being the nature reserve it was before fecearmi last summer, although it will be a long time before the new hedge provides a safe nesting place.

 

We have a new visitor to the garden. A pair of wood pigeon came calling today, they were quite wary of the resident collared dove and both were circling each other suspiciously round a pile of seed on the ground while a cheeky sparrow ate his fill. They are considerably bigger than the collared doves, making them look quite delicate.

The goldfinch are enjoying the sunflower hearts.

 

Cup of coffee in the sun while I sit and contemplate on what I have to do next.

Went to my favourite garden centre on Friday for some more copper beech to go behind the bench but they had sold out and won't have any more til next week. they will save me some, but I couldn't come away empty handed and came away with these grasses.

Meanwhile in the back garden, things are beginning to stir albeit a little more slowly.

The Mahonia has finished flowering but is producing a lovely lot of berries.

The back garden gets hardly any sun at this time of year so it can be forgiven for waking up later than the front.

 

It seems quite strange but my front garden is feeling more zenlike than my back garden at the moment. Could this be because I am spending more time out there trying to get it back into shape after last years devastation?

Here is a quick tour, spring is definately springing round here.