Hoicked out a hydrangea that didn't do well last year and planted some penstemmons that I had taken from cuttings last year. Hopefully they will be ok, have another 3 if they fail. Edged the lawns and gathered up more rose leaves. Next door replaced a damaged fence panel so I don't have to worry about their dogs geting into the garden. Everything is pushing through the soil, hope we don't suffer for this lovely weather later.
I cleaned the paving again, but don't think it is very effective. Dug out white allium seedlings and bulbs. Dug up some snowdrops. split them carefully and replanted. After lunch I cut down all the old canes in the Stipa Gigantica - a back breaking job. Found some ladybirds though and put them carefully underneath the clump, a frost is forecast tonight. OH recut a curve in the lawn I was unhappy with and also trimmed the edges.It was 18.4 deg at 3.30 pm - unbelievable. We also saw a big yellow butterfly!
Brimstone! I've yet to see any, despite having four buckthorns. Have seen Red Admiral and Peacock, but nary a sniff of a Brimstone - and I usualy see them in January in a mild year.
Thanks DGM, my knowledge of butterflies is a bit limited. Is a brimstone one special?
Not really, no, common all over the country. Allegedly they gave us the name butterfly as they were referred to as the butter-coloured fly, fly being the old country word for any insect. As it happens only the male is yellow, the female is much whiter.
Laid the weed membrane and bark chip, so finally finished the veg garden, got a tree to plant later and need to plant out broad beans before they get up and walk, but first the school run...
Another glorious day. Have spread manure on the borders and moved a few plants around. Can't believe how much I've got done over the last week. Keeping more seed sowing for the weekend when it's supposed to rain.
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