Despite bright sunshine all day, my birthday was cold, starting at minus 8C and not rising above plus 3C. However, there are snowdrops, crocuses, miniature irises and chinodoxa blooming in the garden.
The cankered maple tree on the back fence was felled by Brian’s crew on 17 April, doing surprisingly little damage, apart from an area where the soil was rather trodden down.
Two days later, it was warm enough to work out doors in light sweaters. I started repotting the lilies to their summer quarters. The dahlia bed in front of the deck is not a good place to overwinter them because some have rotted.