Nothing Important

 I’m afraid I have nothing of great interest or importance to report. I am not gadding across continents in a puffed up little man-world trying to broker peace between countries that have always picked fights with each other and probably always will. I am not wasting huge amounts of Earth’s resources and billions upon billions of dollars/ pounds/ magic beans flying to the Moon, around the Moon and back from the Moon in an elitist and pointless example of ‘Look what I can do.’ And I haven’t shelled out stupid money for a ticket to what is, after all, only a game of football taking place some time in the Summer in the USA. 

What I AM doing is plodding on quietly in my own little way trying to make my own little world as calm and peaceful as possible. This afternoon, I’ve conducted Seed Sowing Session No. 2. Mostly herbs and flowers as I had planned but then I got drawn into vegetables and I have cucumbers, French beans, courgettes and squash on the go, plus the eight tomato seedlings kindly given to me by one of the villagers. I suspect I’ll capitulate and put in some beetroot next month…and kale…possibly some spinach…sigh…

I've constructed a feeble cane frame for the hops to climb, as they have begun their usual berserk growth spurt and, as usual, taken me by surprise. There’s a good eight to ten shoots coming off each bine now, which is very good. Just makes more to wrangle later in the year, though. I caught myself looking online at flagpoles to train them up but have you seen the cost of a flag pole these days? Sheesh. 

The flowers are filling out nicely, hither and thither…

The bluebells are taking over where the daffodils have left off. Here is Nell the Poo posing in the shady corner with some primroses (which I shall divide when they are finished flowering) and the honesty which is doing very well this year after being somewhat feeble last year…

The pear tree blossom is, as always, looking stunning…

And the angellica I planted a couple of years ago has really taken off. It takes a year or two to find its feet; I am looking forward to full flower mode…

I still haven’t decided where to site the magnolia or the peonies but they seem happy in their pots for the moment so I shan’t rush with a decision. 

Potted on some houseplants. Still cutting purple sprouting broccoli. The bees are enjoying the stems that have gone to flower. I didn’t know that the broccoli flower heads had such a lovely scent, but I do now! 

Mr Swallow has taken up residence in the laundry and is singing for a mate. 

There is a lady robin sitting on a nest she’s built in a stack of flower pots in the shed. It’s a compact and round nest with a rather ostentatious frontage. I had to go in the shed to fetch some seed trays which I managed to wrangle out very slowly and carefully from the shelf above her, whilst she watched me with her beady eye as if to say, ‘Leave my flowerpot nest alone, do you hear, or I’ll have ya!’

I wouldn’t dream of upsetting her whilst she is sitting. If nothing else, I’m a pretty good bird maternity ward matron. 

And that’s all, folks.