This is the time of year when  we start freshening up the house for the start of the season,.  It is an old fashioned Spring Clean, the curtains come down, the feather duster comes out, mattresses are turned, wood is polished and brass and silver are all cleaned to a sparkling finish.

The paint brushes also make an appearance with the gloss paint being spruced up and new wallpaper hung where we fancy a change.

When the house is finished thoughts then turn to tidying up the garden. Today it  feels a little like Spring as the sun is shining but there is a keen wind.   Snowdrops, winter aconites and crocus are bursting through the snow, but I think they need to stay cosy for a while longer as there is more snow to come.  Leaves are tidied from the borders, herbaceous plants are cut back ready for  new growth and the vegetable plot turned over ready for planting.  The Bonsai are not quite ready to be brought out of their winter home just yet, but their staging will be cleaned ready for their arrival.  The greenhouse will be cleaned and everything will be ready for the appearance of new life in the garden.