March 2005

9th March

I am so glad I decided to mass plant early miniature and small daffodils rather than concentrating on mid-season giants. These early daffs last for so much longer, up to six weeks whereas the larger ones are often over in a few days. Several people have said how much the daffs in the front garden cheer them as they walk past

Miserable weather has kept the drifts of snowdrops fresh.

The lawnmower man came round today. I was surprised how much it improved the look of the lawn. With all that tramping we have done round the pond, I expected a cut would reveal bare earth but the grass looked quite presentable.

11th March

Chris has started levelling the wall beneath the pool lining. but I don't think he was too well. He managed to get comparatively little done. A large number of frogs have returned.

16th March

The warmer weather has returned. The pond, although not finished, is a seething mass of frogs, the males all loudly croaking. The pond is so full that thirty or so frogs at a time jump out of the pond annnd wait around on the lawn.

17th March.

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It wasn't until I put up the frog photo on screen that I realised there was frog spawn in the pond, clustered round the larger piece of lily. I wonder whether I should try fishing out some oxygenating plant from the dustbin and put it back

18th March.

A really beautiful day, the first day I've really enjoyed being out in the garden for ages - about 18 degrees and I sat outside to have my lunch without a cardigan. In the evening I sat out looking at the sunset and sipping a campari and soda. The levelling cement under the liner is now finished but the wet cement is patterned with frog footprints. mostly little gouges where their claws have pressed in as they prepare to jump. The warmth has seen off most of the snowdrops but the large daffodils have now opened to join the daintier ones.