Spring in Bloom

It's time to say goodbye to my scarfs, thick jackets, gloves and boot. Hello budding trees, daffodils, tulips, birds singing, sunshine, shorts and sandals! I love spring! I'm not exactly a person who likes warm weather but after months of grey skies and hiding under piles of clothing which makes me feel like a rice dumpling, I'm more than happy to welcome spring with open arms. Don't you feel your mood is lifted when you walk on the streets and see gardens full of flowers blooming in all rainbow colours? I certainly notice a spring in my steps as I walk out of the door and feel the rays of sun shining down on me. Ahh! The sweet smell of my Skimmia blooming.

I love everything flowers. Yes! Everything! Ask my sisters and they'll tell you I'm a 'flower person'. Is it because I am born in April, the beginning of Spring? Maybe....but I do have a serious love affair with flowers.

One of the things I most looked forward to moving to UK was having a garden of my own. I've not grown anything before other than beansprouts in primary school. Ironic isn't it? Well, it's never too late for anything. Last year, I planted lilies, begonias, sunflower, lavender and some other flowers which I forgot what they are called in my long and narrow back garden. I even grew sweetcorn from seeds. What I really dislike about this garden is that my house doesn't lead straight out to it. You have to go out of the back door, onto a common pathway before coming to it. Anyone can just go into it. Strange isn't it, though I suspect it's to make the gardener's job easier so he can mow the lawn and trim the hedge as and when he likes as the house is the university's property. Did I say 'as and when he likes'? The other grouse I have is this gardener who works for the university lives just next door. But the lawn and the hedge weren't cut as frequently as they should. Now I'm not being fussy here. Imagine the hedge growing to the extent we could hardly walk into the garden. It was that bad. I had to buy a hedge trimmer just so I could attend to my plants and hang my clothes out to dry.

This year, I've decided to concentrate on my little front garden. It's going to require a lot of work but I've started with having potted plants near the main door. Hehe! I can delay greeting the earthworms. I HATE creepy crawlies! Everytime I dig into the ground and chance upon a fat and long earthworm, my heart will skip a beat and most often than not, I'll scream! Adrian asked 'How can you be a gardener then?' Why not?! I can just stick to my compost and my pots. I know I will not be happy with just that, I'll still plant my flowers into the ground.

Today I took the girls to a huge garden centre. Having had some gardening experiences now, I didn't buy too many plants. I only bought what I can plant out at the moment. But I'm sure I'll go back for more!

Before

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