April showers

Al Jolsen once sung a song about 'April showers' which feels rather appropriate at the moment.  It feels as if it has rained constantly for months, although it must only have been a few weeks of it and it is most needed.  The garden at Hazel Cottage is a vivid shade of green, other than the muddy tracks that are forming across the lawn.  We often watch the blackbirds hopping about the garden in the rain, feasting on the worms and insects and hopefully keeping the slug population down.

Life is not a highway strewn with flowers,
Still it holds a goodly share of bliss,
When the sun gives way to April showers,
Here is the point you should never miss.

Though April showers may come your way,
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it's raining, have no regrets,
Because it isn't raining rain, you know, (It's raining violets)

It seems that we have the gulf stream to blame for these April showers - as it moves northwards in early Spring, it allows large depressions to come in, bringing in downpours of rain and hail and very changeable weather.   In the midst of all this rain, it is useful to look ahead and be glad that all this rain is helping towards everything bloom and grow in the summertime.

We were out in the countryside at the weekend and Mr C took some lovely pictures of the birds in the trees and the gardens at Mottisfont. The only blue skies we've seen around here in weeks.

Chaffinch

The Gardens at Mottisfont