Jonathan: A gloriously sunny day! A day when it really feels that Spring is springing! A light breeze, not a drop of rain, almost cloudless skies (solar pv output exceeded 10kWh – the first time for 2016), and despite air temperature if single figures, warm in the sun – especially if working.  So we did and we were. I completed a second day of (long overdue!) heavy pruning overgrown borders – Hebe/Veronica bushes and Rosa Rugosa beds ; and then the pleasure of a really good bonfire (requiring – at the end of the day – a long shower and complete change of clothes). Denise tidied up borders – clearing away dead and decaying leaves, lightly forking the soils, and working in compost.  I was working on my own, but Denise had help: the Buff Orpingtons were let out of their yard to pick over the borders for grubs and bugs, and they seemed to really enjoy their work.  The cats, were busy, too: when we’re out working in the garden they love to keep us company, and make us aware of their presence by showing off – racing around, attacking make-believe mice, skipping along the ridges of the greenhouses, climbing and ‘hiding’ in trees and pouncing on another cat or on Tilly.

Buff Orpingtons cleaning up the borders

Hebe/Veronica pruning finished,

Pruning of Rosa Rugosa finished

Tabatha in the trees

Bonfire of Hebe/Veronica