Monday, March 25, 2013

Spring, Where Art Thou?

Last Sunday morning I was about to write a blog about a certain a plant and I needed to take some photos of it. But as I went out to photograph it I was greeted by this:

and this


and this


and the plant that was supposed to be featured was this


Nevermind, perhaps some other time once all of the snow has melted and I could photograph this beautiful plant without all that white stuff covering it.

And for those who follow our blog regularly, do you remember when we featured the Koi Grow and Show competition organised by our local koi club Kangei at Avenue Fisheries last autumn? Well, last Sunday was the results day to which all the koi entered were measured again to see how much they have grown and the best performers will win a prize. It was also the day when you take them home to enjoy in your own pond.....

Supposed to be anyway but then again when the date was set we weren't expecting that late March here would look like this...

A very pretty drive towards Avenue Fisheries
Almost unbelievable. The autumn event turned out to be significantly warmer than the spring one!

We were all pleased and surprised how much all of the koi have grown in just a space of a few months and what were all relatively small fish then are much bigger now. The fish I entered grew 6cm whilst the one Gaz did grew an impressive 9.5 cm and was also shortlisted as one of the best developed koi in the bunch. He didn't win the top prize but both of us were pleased nevertheless for his koi to look so good and so well after a few months.

My my they have all grown so well!
The six koi considered to be the prettiest of the lot. Gaz's fish is the one on the top left side.
Alas, as much as how excited we were to take them home we had to leave them both behind. With the cold spell and blanket of snow all over, our pond temperature has dipped down in figures too and would be too cold for them to be transferred in to especially as they are in a much warmer pond now. The big difference in temperature would just shock them hence it was best to leave them behind, to be collected once the weather has warmed up, certainly much more than it is now.

But the question is, when will it warm up here?? Such a prolonged winter this one is, temperature lows may haven't been that bad but this season has dragged on, and on this time.

Spring, where art thou??

And so many spring events this week yet so little spring! Last weekend and this week would have been a very busy period for us, with several spring gardening events happening that we were intending of going to. Looks like we'll have to trim the list down. Oh well, when these events were organised none of us anticipated that the weather will be this cold here.


Even in Central London last Saturday, it was so snowy and cold. Yet looking at the bright (and white) side at least it was very pretty. In Camden Market they were even playing some Christmas songs and a stall was selling mulled wine. A little humour never did harm, and it certainly was appropriate!

Ho, ho ho!

Mark :-)

29 comments :

  1. I sure hope spring comes soon. Right now it looks like March-uary out there. The koi are beautiful. Congrats.

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    1. March-uary, I like that word Grace and it certainly feels and looks like it!

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  2. Things like the bright koi and the red sticks in the pot really stand out in your Springter Wonderland. Have faith! This too shall pass.

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    1. Keeping the faith ricki, it is definitely a test of patience!

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  3. Here in Denmark spring is only found in my windows where I've forced various branches into leaf to have SOMETHING green to look at - and then there's a small batch of seedlings that are beginning to show themselves. Outside it's still Winter Wonderland, and woolly socks and longjohns are in high fashion - at least for me!

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    1. Wooly socks and long johns are appreciated here too at the moment Soren. Somehow it's also comforting to know that it's not only here that is still winter wonderland.

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  4. We have snow too. Very weird, especially for this amount of snow. Hopefully this means a decent gardening season since the last couple of years have been so pathetic. The Koi have all really grown.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Interesting to know you have snow too in your area Cher. And I hope you're right, that we all get a lovely summer this year for a change.

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  5. Love the photo of the koi under the snowy bough! But, brrrr! It's cold here, too - I woke up this morning to well below freezing temperatures! This is not supposed to happen! Where is spring???

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    1. Oh my, same situation where you are too Holley. Yes, where is spring? It's hiding...

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  6. I hope that spring arrives very soon for you! The snow is beautiful but much more appreciated in December and January, I imagine. Gorgeous koi, congratulations! We've been a little cooler than usual fo this time of the year but yesterday the temperature reached 16c 61f, our highest temperature of the year!

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    1. How true Peter, snow is more tolerable in January and February, much less so afterwards. I still remember how warm it was here March of last year, although summer turned out very wet though.

      So glad the koi have grown well and Gaz's entry have done exceptionally well!

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  7. Your Koi are very handsome, indeed! The weather this year has been strange all around, it looks like.

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    1. Weather seems a lot less predictable in recent years Scott. We hope we get some much warmer weather real soon, spring jobs are piling up.

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  8. Yikes! Hopefully the switch will get flipped soon and you guys will enjoy a beautiful late spring and long lovely summer, you've certainly earned it.

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    1. Oh yes please Loree! We all deserve a long and lovely summer!

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  9. The weather in Europe is unbelievable. Here spring is continuing unabated. I wish I could send some rays of California sun your way...

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    1. If its only possible Gerhard! Northern Europe is severely affected by the winds blowing from the northeast.

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  10. Shiver me timbers ! I was wondering whether koi shiver but you've answered my question. Roll on spring!

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    1. Koi do 'shiver' when cold Anna, or rather stay still. Roll on spring indeed!

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  11. Beautiful koi. What do they eat that they grow so big? Same thing here also - spring is playing peek-a-boo with us :-).

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    1. Peek-a-boo, quite a fun way of putting it :) the koi have been grown in a heated pond over winter hence they have been eating well. The growth rate was amazing!

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  12. Yes - the seasons have gone balmy - all very confusing! Yesterday I saw a man carrying a gift wrapped in Christmas paper - was he very late for last year, getting a head start for this or just being seasonal even if the weather isn't?

    Love the koi - such wonderful colours!

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    1. All very confusing indeed Ian! Spring jobs are piling up and all of us gardeners are raring to get stuck in. But it seems we are all stuck in winter mode for now...

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  13. Dear Mark and Gaz at least we are not sheep. As to Mr PampasPalms above - came in to carol music being played here yesterday... oh no, not a rewind, please.

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    1. Oh no, no Christmas rewind please, not until much later in the year when it's supposed to be. Indeed, glad we're not sheep although the wool they produce have been helping us all at the moment.

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  14. I still have snow in my garden though the sun is finally shining so it might all go today. I heard on the news that the cold spell might last until the end of April but I am refusing to beleive it.

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    1. We're refusing to believe it as well Helen, there's still hope! And speaking of hope, we hope all of the snow will be gone today. It has been a slow and long thaw because of the persistent cold weather.

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  15. Wow, that's amazing, though such a shame about the koi not being able to go to their new home.

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