I have been incredibly lucky with the weather staying up here in NW Scotland but of course that means I’m worrying a bit about my baby plants and seedlings back home - I hope my system of capillary matting has kept them alive. I’m missing Ben-cat too although I’ve spied on him on the video doorbell cam. This lovely weather has meant I’ve been out & about & even sat in the garden.

Down in front of the house is.a a large heather & juniper bed. My father deliberately chose heathers to try & give all year round colour. He had it divided up by prostrate juniper creating the impression of water flowing.

The heather provides important sustenance for the earliest of the bumblebees to appear although there were more on the native coltsfoot.

Round the side of the house & in front of the garage is the vegetable plot with its old plum tree and large blueberry bush. I’m always impressed how the large cold frames have survived the harshest of weather here.