Things have been very quiet over the wet grey months of winter that have made time in the garden less joyful than usual. Thankfully we have now got the benefit of sunshine days and warmth and a feeling that summer might be approaching Spring tulips look beautiful in the nurturenature garden, some in pots, some in beds. Some are still going strong while others are already past their best. We have a wide range of tulips from simple plain white tulips to the dark black Ronaldo, the orange and purple Hermitage and the quirky parrot tulips. Whatever they are like tulips herald the establishment of spring and the approach of summer. We choose different tulips every year to provide a variety of colour palettes from year to year and to learn more ourselves about what various tulips look like close up and beautiful. In essence therefore we are treating the tulips as annuals although the bulbs that are lifted do get planted in places in the garden like the woodland where they can do their thing next year if they feel like it but it doesn’t matter if they don’t. Along with the colours and greenery of spring have come the birds. Singing away they are a wonderful part of the garden experience despite my recognition powers, especially of birdsong, being hopelessly poor. I have recently discovered an app called Merlin which identifies birds by their song so that you know which birdsong goes with which bird. It is a great way to learn what birds are actually around in the garden as well as to learn about birdsong. I am currently sitting in the garden writing this listening to the birds sing and doing my best to learn which is which by following the app. It is such a privilege to be able to listen to the birds singing while I write – and enjoy the beauty of the garden at the same time. We enjoyed sharing the garden with the Wortley Hall garden volunteers on the evening of 7th May and were blessed with a beautiful evening with sun and a gorgeous light. This has become an annual event with the volunteers visiting at different times of the year to get a feel for how the garden varies through the seasons

Events for the diary

The first event coming up is a plant sale and open garden on May 25th from 10-2.30, only a fortnight away – it would be lovely to see you here and have you enjoy the garden. There will be tomato plants for sale as well as perennials – a good time to buy both. Details of other events will follow but one important date to get in the diary is a poetry reading with Jackie Kay and Carol Ann Duffy on Saturday July 27th (time tbc). This is a great opportunity to enjoy two outstanding national poets together in the beautiful surroundings of the NurtureNature gardens and I am sure it will be oversubscribed. Jackie was an amazing performer last year and greatly enjoyed by those who heard her. If you want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to see these two poets together get the date in your diary and email me at nurturenature61@gmail.com or call me on 07831505624 to reserve a place.

Further posts and photos to follow soon……….