Rainbow Wool and Early Bluebells

We have had several frosts. Luckily I was one step ahead and covered all the new seedlings each time. However two days ago I did not open and shade the propagator and by lunchtime a lot of tender seedlings had keeled over. Thankfully they all recovered after sitting the trays and pots in water.

It is just a reminder to be ever-vigilant. 

The warm sun was very welcome today especially for those celebrating Mothers Day. But there was a cold wind.

At the garden I planted a huge chunk of cardoon from our own front bank. It always causes a stir with visitors but we lost the row there, for some reason.

I put plastic bottles round them. Who knows if rabbits like cardoons. Possibly not as the leaves are a bit hairy. I hope they survive as the bumblebees love the pollen-laden flowers.

Nearby the raspberry rows needed pruning and tying, a job usually done in the autumn. Its not finished but its well under way. Steve brought chipped bark.

He also planted onion sets. The ground is raking down nicely.

 

In the shrub bed the magnolia stellata and forsythia are quite a sight.

In the pond the striking kingcups are just starting to flower.

 

At home we have been creating new cottages for the fairy garden. The main part has been protected with yacht varnish which helps it last longer. Now I am just waiting for some spray yacht varnish to be delivered, for all the trimmings.
 

Our next joint job is to find a half log to replace the tiny caravan.

 

Some time ago my sister Paula, bought me some lovely rainbow wool and I thought it was time to create something. 

Mittens .... the ones on the left ....

...... and a basket of balls which I couldn`t stop making.

They might "become" something else.

 

I have a large quantity of fluffy, soft wool so these shoulder bags, suitable for carrying a mobile phone, have kept me busy.

And the soft furry hedgehogs are proving very popular with the children in the family. Might have to make some more.

 

We had a lovely walk in the nearby woods this afternoon and were astonished to spy the first bluebells. This feels very early to me.