Morning at Bealtaine Cottage is a lazy affair as far as the cats are concerned.

No sooner do I get out of bed than the cats find a warm spot to snooze away the morning!

The morning was dry and with no threat of rain, it was important to get into the garden and get some more work done.

Most of the work is coppicing and logging, to make a new wood pile, ready for next winter.

I am yet to get down to the Bog Garden and clear around the ponds and besides which, my waders have sprung a leak!

I shall wait until the weather warms up and then do a summer clear.

Moss has grown everywhere over the course of a wet Autumn and Winter.

It’s possible to collect bags of it just on the gravel on the lane-way!

Masses of buds everywhere, especially here on the Red Robin (Photinia).

I cut it back quite hard last Autumn!

Cleaning the steps and pruning back the Beech trees and roses.

Another eight weeks or so and the London Pride on either side of the steps will be in bloom.

The Willow fedge will be growing and greening!

Euphorbia is greening and growing…and spreading a lot!

Time to pot some up for gifting later in the year.

Magical reflections in the magical gardens… even the smallest amount of water in a container, pulls the sky down into the garden!

And the silver Moon Pennies of the Lunaria have endured the ravages of the winter in this little sheltered spot under the Laurel arch.

The stillness and warmth of the cottage is comforting after working in the cold air outside.

In the pantry…the lovely happy faced terracotta jar was bought for £4 in a Charity shop and holds all the garlic grown last summer in the potager beds.

It has little air holes and keeps a cool temperature inside…just perfect!

This is another bargain picked up at a Boot Fair and costing £8…it holds a candle inside and is a storm-proof garden light.

The shower room window faces south and catches lots of light…a good place to over-winter plants.