April 2021

Snakeshead fritillaries Yellow flowers on bush Bunch of dafodills Unknown plant as of now!

2nd - At long last, some fritillaries are making it worthwhile. Lovely shades of yellow and I still have not identified the last one!

Marsh marigolds in bloom Buds appearing on pear tree Red & yellwo bedding plant

2nd - More yellow with the marsh marigolds; the pear tree is still alive and more yellow, this time with a contrasting red.

Pale blue lungwort flower Oxlips in bloom Four northern marsh orchids

2nd - Delicate hues and more yellow with the Oxlip. Do I see a fourth orchid breaking out?

Rhubarb starting to grow Leaping salmon rose growing well Wisteria starting to bloom

2nd - Cream or custard for the rhubarb? Leaping Salmon is doing very nicely thank you. The wisteria is alive - despite my best efforts.

Unknow flower Mushrooms on the lawn

2nd - Nice colours under the front hedge while Funghi on the lawn suggest it is time to be mowed?

Bunch of snakeshead fritillaries Red coloured cowslip

3rd - The fritillaries are looking good while I not sure how the cowslip got to be this colour....

Insect on heather Bumble bee on heather Bee on heather Bee on heather Bee on heather

3rd - The insects were enjoying heather in the sun.

Light dusting of snow on rose bed Snow covered rhubarb raised bed

5th - What a difference over a couple of days! Now snow and below freezing - not sure the flora appreciate this change in temperature.

Frozen pond surface Rhubarb leaves showing frost damage

6th - Another heavy frost - pond frozen - wonder how the frog spawn will do? The rhubarb did not like the frost....

Large clump of frog spawn in pond Small clump of frog spawn in pond

9th - Not sure that the frog spawn appreciated the recent frosty mornings - time will tell.

Bugle starting to flower Pretty white flowers Forget-me0nots in flower

9th - Bugle doing nicely thank you as are the forget-me-nots.

Redpoll on seed feeder Male tawny owl in flight

14th - A very poor image of a redpoll but they are unusual enough in the garden to warrant inclusion. Mr. Tawny Owl on his way to roost in the hedge.

Helebore in flower Lords and Ladies Daffodils in flower

14th - Hellebores looking great - the Lords and Ladies are doing well - daffodils are still in flower

Garlic plants amonsgt the rose bed Backlit red rose flower

14th - Somewhere amongst the garlic there are roses and the colours can look great.

Purple snakeshead fritillaries Red cowslips Unknown flower starting to bud

15th - The fritillaries survived the frosts better than I expected. My "unknown" green leaves now have a bud - may even find out what it is soon!

Start of apple blossom Deep red flowers on bedding plant.

15th - Lot's of buds on the apple trees while the red makes a lovely splash of colour.

Fly on leaf of clematis Bee in flight over heather

15th - The warm days brought out some flies on the clematis while the bees were busy around the heather.

Small botanical tulip

16th - Turns out my "mystery flower" is a "Tulip tarda" or "small botanical tulip" - thanks G!

Robin with food Robin with insect

17th - Robins trying to match the woodwork whilst collecting food.

Pink cowslips Red cowslips Forget-me-not flowers White flowers Insect on oxlips

20th - Love the delicate colours from this time of year.

Northern marsh orchids Bee on heather

20th - Northern marsh orchids have survived the recent frosts while the bees were back out on the heather.

Tawny owl in tree Tawny owl in tree

21st - Tawny Owl catching some late evening rays before going to work and feeding his Missus and brood.

Tree sparrow on iron frmae Robin standing on post Blackbird on rocks Wood pigeon on rockery

21st - Nice to see the tree sparrows quite often these days while the robin, blackbird and wood pigeons are regulars.

Pink flowers on currant bush Early clematis flowers Backlit hazel leaves

23rd - Lovely colours on the bush while a clematis is flowering nicely. Hazel leaves looking good with back-lighting.

SIgns of life on a new pear tree Early growth of rhubarb

23rd - The new pear tree is still showing signs of life while the rhubarb seems to have defeated the frosts.

Clematis about to flower First blue of bluebells Small shoots of yellowrattle

25th - Another clematis about to flower while the first blush of blue appears on the bluebells. Early signs of yellow rattle appearing.

Late flowering daffodils Narcissi in flower Marsh marigolds in bloom

25th - Still daffodils and like flowering while the marsh marigolds are a deep yellow.

Tadpoles starting to emerge Tawny owl on lip of nest box

25th - Some of the tadpoles have survived the frosts while Mrs. Tawny has a few moments respite.

Female tawny owl on nest box

26th - A few moments on the edge of the nest box - she is happy leave the two owlets to squabble on their own.

Early morning photo of male tawnyowl Clematis about to bud Cowslips in flower Northern marsh orchid without spots

28th - A very early morning shot on the male. The clematis is flowering up while the cowslips look good. A northern marsh orchid without spots?

Snakeshead fritillaries producing seed heads Snakeshead fritillaries in flower

28th - Some of the fritillaries are producing seed heads while others, in another part of the garden, are still flowering.

Flowering clematis Hosta shoots appearing Primroses in flower

30th - Lovely colours on the clematis while the Hostas are starting to come through. The primroses still look good.

Pink & blue forget-me-nots Bluebells starting to flower First bud of the year for Dublin Bay rose

30th - Some pinkish forget-me-nots while the bluebells are beginning to flower and the first bud on "Dublin Bay".

Rhubarb starting to grow Wisteria starting to produce flowers Leaping Salmon rose showing new leaves

30th - Rhubarb is improving following the frosts - the wisteria is alive and the new "Leaping Salmon" rose is growing nicely.

Hail on the ground in April Tawny owl on the edge of a nest box.

30th - Last day of April and the weather celebrates with hail.....while Mrs. Owl takes the fresh air and relaxes.