The first tulips are open in Bed 3 and some double-headed ones are coming along. This autumn I’ll be planting more bulbs as I don’t think it’s only the pink tulips that are missing. The foxgloves are taking off though and I think I have some more that will flower this year. Next year I’ll probably be complaining that I have too many.

The pond was low again and I added some rainwater and some tap water that had been left open for a few days. Its first tap water!

I finished weeding the ledge and cut the grass back from the front edge of it better. It’s been a while since the wooden pole was seen, and bugs like to hide in there. I’ve planted 3 x brachyscome Mauve Delight, which is a mat-forming daisy that can fight it out with the fleabane when that starts growing. I’ve tried to keep them away from where the sweet williams or everlasting peas will flop. In the spaces I’ve then broadcast the remaining flax seed.

I’ve made a bug dish for the birds and hung it on the fence near the coconut. There are just crushed mealworms in there for now, but it’s intended for any grub I dig up and want the birds to have. The robins aren’t tame enough to come and get anything from me yet.

All four ferns now have fiddleheads at their bases, waiting to unfurl, which is exciting. Lots of green seedlings are coming up through the bark, but I’m not sure what they are yet. There’s bound to be some corn cockle.

Bed 1 is turning a little green too, though it’s too soon to tell what’s what. I managed to give it a light watering, but it really needs some rain to get the seeds going. There are lots of borage plants coming and they’ll be thinned and topped as needed so as not to block the view.

The various sticks and branches I’ve been keeping around have now been reduced down to a few useful straight ones. I haven’t thought about their usage yet, but the strongest ones may go in with the canes.