Friday, 9 May 2025

Friday 9th May - cast not a clout

Confusing weather

'Cast not a clout 'till May is out'. Does that mean wait until the end of May, or wait until the hawthorn (May-tree) is in flower? Answers on a postcard, as they always used to say before texts were invented. 

Well, I did, a week or so ago, changing from Winter duvet and Winter pjs to Summer duvet and Summer pjs. But the I've shivered the past few nights (my friend said she'd taken a hot water bottle to bed!) and so I this morning I put out Winter pjs for tonight. 

Today has, of course, been lovely and warm, so now I'm in a bit of a quandry... 

Gardening 

Lots of useful work was done; BB scrabbled around under the hedge at the bottom of the garden pulling up goose-grass, or sticky-grass, or cleavers, or robin-run-the-hedge, call it what you will. It is just beginning to flower, the perfect time to catch it. Once it has formed seeds you are doomed... pull it up too late and a millions little round seeds will fall rattling onto the ground, ready to cause ten times as much trouble next year! 

So, I'm sorry, caterpillars, I'm not providing a breeding ground for you inside my garden. You'll just have to try your luck on the other side of the hedge. I'm sure there will be plenty out there.

I've also made progress in tidying my 'potting' area by the veg patch, organising space for a chair and table ready for morning coffee among the broad beans in days to come. 

Music

This Ravel Prelude is one of the most transparent sounding pieces I know.



12 comments:

  1. Essential to have a little sitting place in the garden. Morning coffee amongst the broad beans, what could be better?

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    1. Especially if there is a croissant as well!

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  2. Yes the may blossom is fully out, we've a lighter duvet and it is still too hot in bed. I'm grateful for my shorter nighties.

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    1. I think Granny Marigold (see her comment below) has come up with an excellent solution

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  3. Whether to wear summery night clothes or warmer....that is the question. I find it best to have both on hand and decide at the last minute :)
    I rarely see any caterpillars in my garden but I do have invasive grass that has lots of seeds. It's an endless battle.
    Happy Mother's Day!!!

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    1. Luckily the goose grass pulls up easily as the stems have a little weak spot just above the earth. It does mean the roots stay there, ready to have another go!

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  4. There is loads of hawthorn blossoming round here. I've done the summer/winter wardrobe swap, and hung the winter coats in the spare wardrobe. But kept the electric blanket on the bed, mainly because it helps Bob's back pain. Hoping for warm sunny days ahead

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    1. We don't do a wardrobe swap, never have, so that makes choosing clothes for unseasonal weather easier! Yes to the warm sunny days, preferably with rain overnight!

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  5. Loads of goosegrass (stricky willy) in my garden. At least it's easily pulled up.

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    1. I wondered how many more names there would be for it.

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  6. A sitting place in the garden is a lovely idea. I find, though, that I'm always up and down looking at things that need doing.

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