the grass is riz .., well nettles, actually. So, today we did a bit more strimming but also gave all the trees a drink. Because spring this year is as dry as a very dry thing that's had no water for weeks.
And we have our first leaves. Nothing on the apple trees yet, but some buds on the plums and quite a few tiny leaves on the quince. The sun has been out, and there are lots of ladybirds on view, and the odd bumble bee. I even saw the first butterfly of the year today - a Small Tortoiseshell. This was identified courtesy of Patrick Barkham's excellent book The Butterfly Isles. I saw the insect and tried to remember the distinguishing features when we got back to the house for tea (three black bands on the wing, if you're interested). The book then gave me much more information to convince me that, yes, it is the right time of year for that species.
Other things - I finally found a place where we can buy tree-guards, after two fruitless journeys to farm/garden centres. I sometimes wonder. At moments like this, free enterprise seems to consist of people trying to sell you things you don't want, while not selling you things you do. And these tree-guards are important because of the rabbits, seen in the field last week. These are not dear little Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail. They are rampant tree-nibblers! We can't be on watch all the time, so the guards go on and will remain until they have become large enough to be safe from the leporine menace.
So, everything's started growing.
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