Blarney Parade

Blarney St Patrick's day parade drew a huge crowd to the village, the parade was supported by all the neighbouring parishes and there was a great buzz as the participants took up their stations.We were in position no 36 and there was quite a few behind us.
The sun shone throughout apart from one light shower just before the parade took off.
There were 2 raised beds on the trailer and a pergola, 2 scarecrows were suspended from the top and various garden implements.

All available personnel were out early to prepare the float (trailer)!Julie was busy with the paint brush and Michael was putting the pergola together

In the foreground are the various bits the rest of us were gathering to fill the raised beds etc.

Scotty driving the jeep with some of the allotmenteers behind. The balloons are actually vegetable shaped but it is hard to see them in the photo.

The motley crew behind with garden implements, wheelbarrow etc, Willow the german shepherd is sporting a tricolour ribbon for the day!

Mother's Day was on Sunday here, flowers, wine and chocs were arriving all day, Thank You.
I took the camera into the front garden to take some pics of what is in flower now.
The first tulip with the last of the grape hyacinths in the background

Last of the daffodils

Catkins and buds on the contorted hazel

Callendulla,my late Mother brought me a little slip one day some years ago and it has flowered faithfully since. It usually flowers much later here in the front which gets very little sunshine except early in the morning.

Mahonia is in a corner which the yellow flowers brighten up, the top leaves are always a mottled brown colour for some reason.

Today I made a start on reclaiming the back garden from the hens,a very short video of them checking out their new abode!