Not a shred of gardening was achieve this week

There has been no gardening in the Quirky bird in between garden this week. We have had snow showers most days, though thankfully it hasn't lain. It's rained, been windy, chilly and just a bit miserable. The dog and I have only had one walk this week instead of our daily march up the hill.

View from our walk on Tuesday, another snow shower blowing in

Crocus emerging in the garden

Thankfully we are at the end of February and the days are lengthening. I can hear the birds singing their wee hearts out in the morning as I lie in bed planning the day ahead. The Snowdrops are out, the Hellebores are thinking about it and there are a few tentative Crocus flowering.

Another sprinkling of snow

There has been much planning and discussion of future trips, holidays and other exciting things in the pipeline for this Quirky bird, which will no doubt pop up here as they come round. Watch this space as they say.

I needed colour and something to photograph
so I treated myself to some Tulips

They are sitting on my desk
where I can see them as I work

I had the opportunity to go on another bat survey, this time underground at another disused mine this week. That was a really fascinating day, if tiring, surveying two mines. We found seven bats over the two mines, but there are sure to be plenty more where we can't see them.

A collage of my visit down 2 mines on bat surveys this week.
If you click on the photo it enlarges it to see the detail

 That's pretty much it for this week, a week of hibernating, catching up on paperwork and other boring things. I have completed my enrolment with Manchester Metropolitan University to do my course, starting in May. I am excited and very nervous about it, but it will be interesting and good to learn new skills and meet new people. The thought of studying after so long is slightly terrifying! Because it is plant based it will give me lots of new subjects to talk about here too.

Here's what is flowering in the Quirky bird garden this week:

Arum italicum 'Marmoratum'

Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Plena'

Galanthus nivalis

Hepatica noblis, I've had this plant as long as I've been in
horticulture. I was given a piece from the first garden
I ever worked in, Inveresk Gardens, Musselburgh

Mixed unknown crocus

I'm off to have a warming coffee. Have a good weekend, I hope it relaxing and fun, meanwhile here, the cats have the right idea!

Meanwhile the cats have the right idea!

A very warm and snug Milly