We have had some long-awaited sunny days. One day the temperature rose to 17 degrees Centigrade. Our old plum tree is flowering but we are back to the cold and overnight it drops so low that a thin layer of ice has to be broken from the birds’ water in the morning.
The grass has started to grow and the Speedwell (Veronica persica) has decided it is time to flower so there are plenty of blue patches in the grass for the bees. The bees do not stay long on each flower and I feel it must be such a little reward of nectar from each flower.
The Viburnum tinus is much more generous and provides a bountiful supply of winter pollen. We find it a very useful hedging plant and have it in several places in the garden. The plants in the shadier spots flower later and prolong the availability for the bees.
I planted three Cornus mas as I had read that the flowers were attractive to bees. They have just started properly flowering this year but so far the bees seem unimpressed. Still, they have very pretty flowers.
The Hellebores are starting to cheer up the garden and they are certainly welcomed by the bees.
Kourosh grows a Lemon tree in a pot. Although it is small it produced 52 lemons last year. It cannot stay outside in the winter so we bring it in to the spare bedroom. Last week we were so pleased with the sunny days that we took it onto the terrace for its mid-winter summer break.
We kept a careful eye on the weather forecast and put it back into the bedroom when the temperatures dropped again.
I’m sure it is looking forward to the sunshine as much as we are.
17C sounds so very warm. These last days here have been perishing and gardening has been a very cold task.
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I’m afraid I neglect the garden if it is too cold. Amelia
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Snow here in the Cascade Foothills. Though there are hints that spring might be around the corner.
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I hope the corner turns soon :). Amelia
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Too many farmers here cutting hedges. Real shame. The wild flowers not ready to come out yet..too chilly.
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Spring is teasing both us and the wildlife with its changeable arrival. I am impatient for it to come but I have to remind myself it is not yet March.
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I can smell the viburnum! Happy March🌸
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We have had a few sunny days when it has felt spring-like and there have been bees about (bumblebee queens and the first solitary mining bees) but it hasnt lasted and today we are back to overcast and cold.
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I have not seen my first wild bee yet (:. Amelia
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The warmer sunny days in February are always such a tease, aren’t they! But you already have a lot of early spring flowers which is nice.
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Things are moving along but we are still having some sub zero mornings. I am more impatient than usual this year. Amelia
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I am getting impatient too Amelia. We just had a snow flurry!
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I should count myself lucky.
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Lovely pictures of your flowers and the bees on the flowers.
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Thank you. I am so looking forward to warmer days and seeing the first wild bees. Amelia
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Photo #3 is beautiful! I hadn’t realised bees like the flowers of v. tinus.
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It is a very pollinator friendly plant and flowers so early which is so useful.
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It’s fascinating to learn about the plants you supply for the bees to provide year-round nectar for them. Though we don’t keep honeybees, I like to provide for them too as best I know how. I especially love the photo of the honeybee on the viburnum. I long to see a photo of the mysterious bedroom that functions as a guest room for tender plants and seeds during winter’s cold days. 🙂 It’s so impressive that your potted lemon produced 52 lemons last year!!! Well done! -lisa
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For the past two years Kourosh has fitted a grow lamp over the lemon tree in the bedroom. It has made a difference. The lemon tree was always a bit poorly looking at the end of winter as the bedroom only protected it from very low temperatures but has very little sun. The lemon tree is outside now and we hope we will not have to bring it in again. Amelia
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