After a frosty but dry April, it was May that brought us sunshine and showers. I think it rained pretty much every day during the first half of May. 
The rain was good for the garden though. The Ceanothus flowered and attracted some bees.
The apple blossom fully blossomed.
The wet weather didn’t dampen the ardour of these courting hedgehogs.
The laburnum tree flowered spectacularly.
Sticking with the yellow theme, the greater celandine sprang up.
The geraniums are still enticing the bees.
The cotoneaster flowers seem to be a bigger draw for a variety of bees … 
… and bumblebees, mainly tree bumblebees.
Once again I took part in #NoMowMay to allow wildflowers, often derided as “lawn weeds” to grow providing an all you can eat buffet for bees and other pollinators. Who used to make daisy chains?
Who used to see if their friend liked butter by reflecting a butter cup under their chin to see if it glowed yellow?
Not sure what you do with germander speedwell other than sit back and enjoy the carpet of blue they create.
The plantain is growing well unhindered by the mower’s blades. The leaves make a soothing balm, there is a recipe here if you want to try it. They were also used in a childrens’ game called “Soldiers” either as a form of conkers or by winding the stem around under the head and pulling it tightly to form a catapult.
rambling ratz 
Your garden is in full bloom and lovely! Great close ups of a variety of bees too.
And yes, I made Daisy chains and did the Buttercup test! 🙂
Gosh, it’s decades since I’ve seen a buttercup!
Enjoy the summer. 😀
Thank you. I thought buttercups were everywhere!
I wish! 😀
You are doing far better for bees than us.
I suppose it warms up sooner down south.
Undoubtedly.
All 3 of those games – the buttercup, daisy chains and conkers were enjoyed by myself when very young as we had our first home on a quarter acre block, but I wonder if children know about these nature games at all now. Children, even the young, are fixated on modern technology for the most and I suspect it would only be nature-loving parents that encourage their children to explore the outdoors more.
Secondly, there are many ‘back’ and ‘front’ yards, that are minuscule compared to my own childhood spaces in Melbourne, Australia.
Do children ever climb trees or make mud pies and little towns made out of leaves, twigs and moss? Do they catch tadpoles and watch them grow?
Some certainly do, but I think our childhoods were definitely more free and easy, especially for those of us that grew up with green spaces.
Such gorgeous pics! We have SO many daisies out this year, oh and foxgloves too. Funny how every year there’s a different plant or flower that takes centre stage.
Thanks for linking to my plantain salve recipe too, it’s such a simple yet useful recipe. I do hope you give it a try someday 🙂
Jane x
Thank you. Our foxgloves are just starting to flower. Thanks for posting the recipe, will try it 🙂