Happy Bank Holiday and Blossom in the Orchard

Wishing you a lovely bank holiday weekend with lots of fun and memorable good times.

The Old Orchard blossom is absolutely amazing with many shades of pink. One of the trees is ancient with a hollow trunk, that has weathered over the years but has very bent branches and many holes in them. It is absolutely alive with many pairs of Blue-tits nesting, bugs, little self-seeding weeds and lichen.The flowers on the apples trees tend to start with tightly dark pink buds and as they shyly open their delicate petals appear paler. Most look as though somebody has gently stroked the edges of their petals with pink magical dust.
I woke up one morning early last week thinking it had been snowing as it was so cold. It was a white ornamental cherry tree outside our bedroom window with the most wonderful canopy of brilliant white blossom. The same tree has now lost all it petals and lays like confetti sprinkled on the ground. 

Here are just a few pictures captured the last few days.

Happy times!

Lambs

Hello
Here are just a few pictures for you to see of our little lambs taken on Saturday, enjoying the afternoon sunshine,  nibbling the rich lush grass along the hedge line. They are starting to get strong and chunky, I love their little knee length woolly socks.

Spring in the Orchard

Hello

It's been a long time since I last posted on my blog, so feel I should get back and start writing again, I do miss writing to you and there is so much to tell you.
I hope you are enjoying the great Spring sunshine with all the huge array of colours and all the so many pretty flowers nodding their heads to you in the warm breeze and the wonderful divine blossoms that are breathtaking. Everything here in the orchard is waking up with new vigour and strength. Mother nature is such a wonderful thing and we have plenty of babies arriving here. The daffodils are just finishing and the bluebells are now making their auditions among the rich grass.

Periwinkle (vinca) growing in the hedgerows

The delicate pink apple blossom

The cherry blossom that attracts the pollinating insects

Life here in the Orchard has been very busy. We have had the arrival of cuddly little lambs from our pet sheep, blossom, petal and flower. It was an exciting time and anxious time. The maternity poly- tunnel was on red alert, with fresh meadow hay and the lambing bucket at the ready. First to arrive on a cold frosty night were twin girls Apple and Apricot from Blossom and then almost a week later in the early hours of a frosty morning twin boys Pear and Plum from Flower. The next day  Petal had a little girl, Damson and sadly a little boy that got very stuck and twisted that didn't make it. All lambs and mums are doing well and after a call from the vet to check on Petal and a dose of antibiotics are all good.

A quick wash from mum

A morning nap

Welcome to the orchard

Smelling the flowers

The Old Orchard is greening up and the grass beyond is being left for the sheep to nibble with their little lambs.

The hens, ducks and quails are laying well. Rewarding us everyday with golden yolked eggs. The hens eggs make a breakfast fit for a king and the the moment we are also enjoying dipping fresh succulent asparagus from the kitchen garden in them.

My Little Call Duck

Plenty of Eggs

Asparagus that you can almost see growing so fast.

Well I must dash now as the much needed rain has stopped and its time to get planting in the kitchen garden - after a nice cup of tea.
Have a lovely weekend and have fun.
Sarah X