Today I spent a few hours in the greenhouse, baking in the 75 degree sun (it's warmer than you think!) and painstakingly transplanting my 35 tomato plant seedlings into pots. In a few weeks they'll be ready to put into the ground, I hope. Of course I don't have nearly enough space (nor even eaters) for 35 plants, so I've been spreading the word to friends that I'll have free plants to give away, assuming all goes well.
The ideal spring weather in these photos is a major contrast from the photos taken just two weeks ago that I posted yesterday. It's the third day of sunshine here in Nottingham, and I just can't get enough of the outdoors. Luckily, being in my peaceful, second-story bedroom (here in England they'd call it first-story) is almost like being outdoors, for I've got two large banks of windows facing east and south over the garden. One of the peculiarities of England is that nobody has window screens. That's right--no window screens. Instead, almost all windows swing straight out into the air. That's a boon for me, since the apple tree outside my south-facing window is currently laden with blooms, and the pear tree next to it and cherry tree next to that are just finishing up their flowering.
Although the occasional wasp, bee and the fly find its way into the room, apparently mosquitoes, gnats and the other pests we know in Chicago aren't much of an issue here. The bugs to watch out for, I'm told, are midges. Just what midges are, however, I've yet to discover.
Keep reading to see more photos of an English spring.
Suddenly we are bathed in a literal glow of green, with spots of color popping out all over the place, as in this flower bed next to the greenhouse. (Full credit goes to English Dad, by the way, for all of his hard work on the garden, lawn and hedges).
The ivy is creeping over the house once more, and will cover it with greenery before turning glorious coppers, reds and golds this fall.
Although most of the daffodils are gone and only a few red tulips are still holding out, summer flowers are now taking over.
There are midges in Chicago, they are those very tiny flies that seem to hover in a large bunch altogether, usually around trees. Definitely the nearest you will come to mosquitoes in England!
As usual the trees, plants, foliage and flowers are bucolic and pastoral. On another note, it has been reported that Boris Johnson, A Tory, is the new Mayor of London. Are the Tories and their charismatic leader, David Cameron, building momentum to supplant the Labour Government?
Midges? Tiny mosquito like things that bite but do not carry any disease.
Glad you are enjoying the beautiful spring weather this week over here.
Wondrous green, pristine and majestic flowers, trees and foliage. I hope England remains committed to nature and wildlife conservation.