spring is just around the corner

First cut of the grass

Daffodils all in Bloom

Rosa Rugosa coming into leaf

quince beds bursting

Suddenly the weather has turned and  a few warm sunny days any everything is awake and rearing to go . I have  given the grass its first cut to give the flowers a sporting chance against the grass . and redefined the island beds .In the top island I planted over a 100 assorted Alliums of various stages of maturity so only some of them will flower in 2014.
The daffodils are in full bloom the full length of the meadow  they have filled out really well in the four years since they were planted. 
Anemone Blanda is starting into bloom as is primroses and the main flush of cowslips.wont be far behind . The top bed which I must admit I gave up on last year as thousands of dock seedlings emerged and the bed was over run . So that is the challenge for this year to sort it by hook or by crook.
Although I am thrilled with the meadow attracting wild life I am not thrilled with the arrival of the Rabbits . What I am going to do about this I really dont know . One family has made its home in my garden and has wrecked my strawberry bed.
 The Moles are also quite a problem making huge Mole hills that I have to remove every few days , and the Voles well they seemed to have reached a balance now providing food for other things I suppose .Buds on the Quince tree are starting to break as is the Rosa Rugosa giving a real feeling that spring really is just around the corner.

We have just had the worst storm I have known in the 40 years we have lived here . As i walked down the meadow this afternoon after the storm had passed I was amazed to see this tiny cowslip .Apart from flowering far too early it had stood firm while being battered by 100 mile an hour wind, also the snowdrops not a mark on them .thy look so delicate , but deceivingly tough to survive unscathed.

Cowslip

Snowdrops

Barn Owl to paint

My notepad computer developed a fault part way through my first post so I had to send it away for repair . We are now up and running again  but lots of catch up to do. 
This  post although not directly attached to the meadow ,but is to local wild life. I was brought the most beautiful little Barn Owl just over a week ago . Sadly she was dead but not a mark on her . She had been hit by a vehicle on the A55. The main road that runs through the middle of our beautiful Island of Anglesey
I took lots of photos of her as I intend to paint her to the best of my ability at some point.
She was ringed so her history was known. She was six months old and had  come from a nest outside  Caernarfon on the mainland .
Although quite far by car only 6 miles across the Menai Straits to where she was killed .
I have never seen a Barn Owl up close before and she was so beautiful.. I just had to share.

The Start for 2014

What a contrast  year  the first post for 2013 was the meadow under 8 inches of  snow accompanied by freezing weather .This year we have had constant wind and storms following on one after another. The weather has also been very mild.So many things starting into growth far too early . I hope we now dont get a spell of harsh frosty weather to knock them all back again

Winter Flowering Honeysuckle
Lonicera Fragrantissima
2014 m1
This has been planted right by the gate on dry days
 I cant resist a really good smiff of its fantastic perfume.
it has the ability to brighten an otherwise dull day.