Spring arrives in the Mendips

Our house is (relatively) high up on the Mendip Hills, standing at a little over a thousand feet above sea level.  And whilst I appreciate that this isn’t especially elevated by many standards (no chance of altitude sickness here!), I have noticed that our exposed location does mean that spring arrives up here a little later than in the countryside around us.  But this week, I think it’s fairly safe to say that spring is here.  The horse chestnuts at the front of our house are in full, fresh green leaf, and it won’t be long until their creamy white spires of flowers, known as candles, will appear….

The sun was shining brightly through the kitchen window too….

So I decided to take a walk down the garden to see what had changed over the last few days…

My broad bean plants were looking sturdy and lots was happening in my cold frame.  The peas, sunflowers, hollyhocks and courgettes had germinated and hopefully the sweetcorn, extra broad beans and marrow seeds won’t be too far behind.  There was blossom on the cherry tree….

And tulips in bloom in my raised bed…

Can you spot the Newfie in the background?  And so, even though it’s colder today with a brisk wind scattering the magnolia petals *Just like snow,” as Florence loves to say, I think it’s safe to say that spring has arrived here up on the Mendips!