Despite the poor weather, our woodland bank is a riot of yellows and blues, with primroses, pulmonaria, oxlips, anemones and daffodils. The plum is just budding for blossom. Doubt I'll be out to appreciate it further today though.  

Forecast looks grim for the next 2 weeks, Bert.

The bees will not be pleased - all those flowers and rain stops them getting to work.

Shifted some today - so all are now on Oil Seed Rape - which will be out as soon as we get some real Spring weather.

Roger

The honeyed scent from that crop has graced my May cycle rides for years. No wonder your bees love it. Hope they don't get too stunned by what we are about to receive.

So do I, Bert.

Some people hate the smell and find it cloying, but the bees love it. The nectar sets very quickly and you need to be quick to remove it - so there is always the danger you will miscalculate and your honey will ferment. It's a bit of an art. Pre-OSR there was less of a rush to extract.

Roger

Could they cope with all this? I think the pollen beetles will be in there too.

Even enough to colour the fog yellow

From near Haverhill, Suffolk, a few years back

I know it well, DEW. Once lived just over the Cambs border from Haverhill.
There was nothing like as much OSR grown in those days - as far as I can recall.
Roger

Some bees, bee flies and hoverflies dancing between the blooms right now.

Interested to hear you have seen bee flies, Bert, given the weather.

Primroses are a popular nectar plant for them, so the date is typical - April/May.

Their Life Cycle ties in with solitary bees like the tawny mining bee, which in turn become active when blackcurrants flower.

Here is Steven Falk's* Flickr page to help you spot the species. [*Collins Guide to Insects on Britain and Northern Europe]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/collections/72157629600308819/

Nice article:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/12/bee-fly-true-sprite-spring

Roger

Primroses in flower widely down here for the last couple of weeks.

Flowering currant also in bloom - does that give a pointer to blackcurrants?

Primroses tend to be a February- April flower here Roger; I don't recall any flowering as late as May in recent years.

It was Bess (wife) who identified the bee fly for me, for the first time the year before last. Charming insect, long proboscis and rather triangular, like a fly, but notably high-energy- belting about more than the early hoverflies around the plum. It's slightly orange/ brown or ginger and, when it hovers, you can see it's fluffy looking. Today's were about the woodland bank- there were at least two- and yes, we do have primroses there but the insects seemed to be more attached to the wooden boundary fence and some of the rocks on our bank- perhaps they felt confused by the early warmth in this spot, the rest of the grounds being bathed in this cool air. The sunshine really warmed up this corner when it came out today, and we often gauge the warmth in this microzone by the little wolf spiders that dart out and bask- although none appeared today. 

Our blackcurrant has just got little green leaflets trying to unfurl, but there are no flowers yet. Have to wait.

So far they seem to be working, no fresh deposits on the grass (yet).

Watch this space, I think when the local wildlife gets used to them it will be back to `business` as usual!

Fire thorn cuttings keep them off and holly leaves...  

Morning, Bert.

April/May is the peak beefly period, tho' they occur more widely than that.

Primroses are one of the flowers they start on. See:

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/dark-edged-bee-fly

As soon as you see copper-coloured bees working your blackcurrants, look out for their nests on the lawn, little "volcanoes".

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/tawny-mining-bee

Roger

On the subject of cats, someone gave us an infra red ultrasonic cat scarer which seems to work when placed in the main route into the garden.

Nothing worse than cat shxt when weeding. Our neighbours on one side have a large dog (irish wolfhound) which of course means  zero feline friends (alive) in their garden but it does mean industrial sized mountains of poo that go into their garden refuse bin. I am sure these bins are meant as receptacles for lawn mowings and hedge cuttings not doggy doo night soil. I wouldn't want to work in the municipal composting facility where all the stuff goes and by god it stinks in the summer at times. They hate gardening by the way so it's pure poo.

On a lighter note I see that our lemon verbena bush seems to have popped its clogs so to speak after the last two freeze ups. Though it might sprout from the base I suppose.

And thanks Roger for that very informative bee ID info. And lastly I hope your hives thrive this summer.  

Nick

You are welcome, Nick.

We had 2 Labradors and I bought a compost bin for their output. It was still heaving with compost worms years after they died and in the end produced the best quality compost you can imagine.  The dogs had been buried up the garden and we used the compost to level out their grave dips perfectly. There's something right about all that. Especially as they had been expert at hoovering up contributions from our cat.

Roger

Hi Nick; we've had a mature, bushy lemon verbena that has graced our summer char and some other dishes, for about 3 years; this has also suffered during the winter, despite being in our porch; have tried to keep up a Spartan watering schedule, but we may have lost it.

All the flowers shining brightly- put up some trellis with my back to that strong sun. the sun has brought out the bees, bee flies, and butterflies: two brimstones and a very out-of-synch comma: no doubt a winterer, possibly from my shed, CPR'd by the sun!

Haven't seen any butterflies yet, hopefully soon. 

Some decent spring weather would be a treat, SJ - even if it makes the grass grow a bit more quickly.

Caught a large hedgehog on camera last night hoovering up some dried mealworms i had scattered.

Roger

Excellent, you've just reminded me to start putting out the hedgehog food again....

We have put up our "sun bubble" ready for the tomatoes.

Roger

Lovely afternoon to be laboring on the patio. Planters replanted. Strawberries flowering and fruit showing. All with new compost. Still the pots to do. Peppers required after the new firs have been taken out and moved to the garden to be grown as miniatures. Along with the baby Christmas tree which is full of green tips and looking nice.  Solar mini lights may go on them.  

Geraniums for the hanging baskets.  TWO trays red and pink geraniums purchase today for the pots. Busy weekend if the weather  is right. .