Sunday 11 April 2010

Some signs of Spring at home

Flowers are making an appearance like this Muscari -

And this Magnolia about to bloom -


Cockerels displaying their wares -

A broody hen sat tight on her clutch of eggs -

A catch crop of salad leaves starting to grow -
 and seed potatoes in pots outside

Young lambs weaned on new grass and pellets-

Sleeping with the bedroom window open -

And hanging the laundry outside to dry -

Beef cattle grazing off the cover crops from shoot season -

And my highseat built and put up on Milkweed Farm -

What signs of spring are showing up where you are?

12 comments:

Maria said...

Also Muscari, and magnolias in bloom everywhere in London. Horse chestnut leaves unfurling in Oxfordshire :o) and I love all your photographs

annacorgihillfarm@gmail.com said...

Overnight snowfall melts before noon, grass is greening up and might actually need mowed this week and I'm hearing raccoon squabbles on their compost pile. My lilacs are budding and we've had crocus up and Daffys. Now if the weather would hold a bit we can skin the greenhouse and start warming the soil!

Kate said...

The apple tree is blossoming. We took our first (ever) crop of asparagus, small though it was. This year's garlic is starting to grow well, just as last year's is becoming nigh on unusable. Seed potatoes are chitting nicely. Gin and tonics are starting to sound appealing again. For me, that's strictly a warm weather drink. Despite my monumental procrastination and dread of seed starting, some were started. And now the sprouts are cheering me up and motivating me. And oh, yes, the dandelions and prickly lettuce are popping up all over.

Paula said...

I guess the bar is for resting your gun and arms? I don't envy you the climb up there! Actually, I think I could manage the climb up- it's the climb down that would get me.

The bulb flowers have been at it for awhile, although I don't have any myself- plan to remedy that this coming fall. The ornamental cherries and plums have finished blooming- now it's crab apples and apples. Robins by the score have been through on their way north already, as have the Canadian geese. I planted my asparagus today!

And The Omnivore's Dilemma was fascinating- really a great read.

Jennifer Montero said...

All - aren't the signs of spring so different for all of us, depending on your latitude and geography? Fascinating!

Maria - I think you and I have the most similar spring experiences. Have you seen your first swallow yet? Another big sign of spring here.

AnnaCHF - I'm guessing you're New England by your description, including the racoons! I imagine warming the soil is turning point where you are.

Kate - the transition from brandy & ginger to gin & tonics is definitely a sign of spring for us too! I'm envious of your asparagus crop. Well done for getting your seeds in, I still have a queue waiting to be started.

Paula - It's not as high as it looks, really. Our cherries and apples are in bud but not to blooming stage yet, you're ahead of us. I have seen a few geese though.

The book is a bad influence on me as I get up early to read, then it's "oh, maybe just one more chapter" and another cup of tea, and I end up behind in my chores. I should have tried out my highseat this morning but the book got me! It is so well-written and informative.

Maria said...

Hi Jen. I haven't seen swallows around yet, but I don't generally see many around my way anyway(not sure why... not enough nesting places? too built up?)

Jennifer Montero said...

Maria - I know little about swallows, but I usually see them in big open fields swooping to catch insects. Perhaps they need space for their aerobatic feeding?

Anonymous said...

Oh, you've made my so homesick! My DH will be coming home to Dorset in a couple of months, but I won't be able to come with him, and the urge to move back is as strong as ever, especially after reading that post!

Jennifer Montero said...

PandE -I'm sorry you won't be making the trip back with DH. If it makes you feel any better, remember the rain and mud we get this time of year! I too get homesick for New England, though in autumn. Hope you will be over for a visit soon

Kevin F. said...

Jen,
All eyes on the Cape are looking to the waters south and west of here for the first sign of the squid boats. With the squid come the Striped Bass! Spring will be official. Also the oystermen put the baby oysters out in the bay in preparation for the rise in water temperature.
Hopefully ours will go out in a few weeks.
Kevin F.

Hunter Angler Gardener Cook said...

You know you can eat those muscari bulbs, right? They are a huge deal in Puglia, where there are whole festivals devoted to the eating of them. They're a little like onions, only not...

Jennifer Montero said...

Kevin - A fishy spring update! Sea bass are a big deal here, and beach casting for mackerel. I'm so excited for your new oyster project. Why is it when I read "baby oyster", I picture tiny cartoon oysters swaddled in little blankets?

HAGC - I had no idea, in fact I would have thought they were mildly poisonous! We're obsessing about the asparagus crop here in the UK, but we haven't any local festivals. I guess the emergence of spring greens after months of eating root vegetables is worth celebrating.