Progress of Spring

Most of last week was sunny and warm, and it almost became a tough job to keep up with the progress of spring! 

Last Thursday, April 3rd, I found that the wood anemones had shown up in a half-wild woodland spot that I sometimes walk by.

 

Scilla could also be seen here and there, and I also spotted the first dandelions.

And freshly painted park benches turned up here and there around the estate where I live!
 

On Friday I walked into town for a dentist appointment, and in the city park, I found various bulbous plants in bloom in the flower beds along the river, and also the big old magnolia tree.

 

 

Alas the pollen season is also here... (witch hazel tree in the park)

On my way back, I found cemetery staff busy planting pansies.

Another sign of spring is that the sea gulls arrived from the coast on 1 April.

 
Two gulls zoomed in from home, sitting on the roof of a neighbouring building. 

Over the weekend it turned a lot colder again, though. Still sunny, but frosty nights, and it was back to wearing a winter coat for walks in the day time, too. (Typical of April here: Almost summer temperatures sometimes in the afternoon, but still high risk of frosty nights, and might even snow a bit, even if it won't stay long on the ground...)

April Weather Update

 

The Easter Chickens were really upset about all the snow we had after Easter, so I put them back to bed today, together with the Easter Eggs.

This rooster (also caretaker of a small kalanchoë plant) decided to stay for a bit longer, though. (He doesn't hibernate in the same box as the others anyway.) 

 

Snow photo from Wednesday

Yesterday was actually mostly sunny, but still too cold for all snow and ice to go away. And today we got more snow, even if less than expected (around here). From tomorrow we should be back to rain and thaw again, though...

Luckily I did not have to go anywhere these past three days;  and no need for that tomorrow either, as it's my week for home delivery from the supermarket.

April Weather

 

We got thrown back to winter here today. Over the Easter weekend we had daytime temperatures reaching around 10'C. Yesterday, on a semi-sunny walk around the old cemetery, I snapped the photo to the left. Today, we're down to around 0'C, and snow. The photo to the right was taken from my balcony - and no, it's not a black&white photo!

It's a common enough phenomenon here in Sweden for everyone to be familiar with the expression "April weather" (aprilväder). I'm not quite sure if it occurs often enough in Britain to be as frequently used there.

April Weather

When in Sweden we talk of "April weather", this is what we mean. It's also what we've been having, since Easter; and why I haven't been out and about much with my camera lately. One moment, the sun may be shining; but by the time I've put my coat and shoes on and gone down the stairs, there's another sudden rain/snow/hail-storm going on outside... (Photo above taken through my window last Friday; but it's pretty much been like that ever since. Brr!)

A week earlier (Good Friday) there were some lovey crocuses to be seen in sunny places. This past weekend, they were wishing they'd stayed in hibernation for a while longer...