The bluebells on the north and east sides of Hillsborough, Ilfracombe, North Devon are astounding at the moment.

To see them:

• walk from the harbour round to Hillsborough
• go via the car park by the swimming pool
• climb the cliff steps from Hele Bay

The best displays are on the north side, which faces the sea. The paths are quite steep, but the views are worth it.

After our first batch of runner bean seeds failed to germinate (we did use last year's seeds), I bought new seeds and they are just now starting to raise their heads above the compost.

The way they lift their 'heads' suggests it is a great effort . . .

 

 The broad beans are also germinating as are marigolds.

The sunflower seedlings look a bit happier than they did several days ago . . .

Out in the garden itself, the comfrey is just about to burst into flower. The bees love these . . .

. . . and a small holly seedling, that really looked quite bare in the winter, is really putting on new growth . . .

It's a marvellous watching everything emerge, stretch and grow in the garden.

It's been a glorious spring this year, but I don't think anything provides as big a lift as the arrival of ducklings.

This morning, in Bicclescombe Park, Ilfracombe in North Devon, I heard ducks squabbling down in the East Wilder Brook as it passes under a small bridge. I looked over the fence and saw a mother duck and her fleet of ducklings. Unfortunately, there were three male ducks trying to mate with her, explaining the noise as she fought them off.

Some blurred photos, taken with zoom lens while hanging over a fence with two spaniels on leads . . .

One of the park-keepers said they were born on Sunday. I counted 12. Before I could take any more photos, they swam under the bridge.

Meanwhile, back on the duck pond, this pair were doing some serious courting and a bit more when they weren't being interrupted by other jealous suitors . . .

Expect more ducklings!

Our blackcurrant bushes certainly seem to have set the ladybirds going . . .

They're at it everywhere . . .

Fortunately, we don't take a 'not in my back yard' approach . . . . . . as we hope it'll work up their appetite for eating aphids.

Meanwhile, a bee decided to ignore these goings-on by drinking . . . 

. . . from the apple blossom . . .

. . . while a robin landed on the fence looking very pleased with itself . . .

He'd got a takeaway in his beak . . .

It looked like an insect, but I couldn't tell exactly . . .

It was certainly eat, drink and be merry in our garden this lunchtime.

This morning I spotted quite a few ladybirds on our two blackcurrant bushes.

I hope they are feeding off any aphids and pests.

I can see why they love the blackcurrant bushes as the flowers are wonderfully delicate.

As well as the ladybirds, there were quite a few beed feeding off the flowers, although they would not keep still enough for me to get a photo so I just snapped the ladybirds.

I did catch this bee feeding on the heather flowers.

And just had to snap the bluebells all coming into flower.

There's so much going on in the garden at this time of year.

In the garden, our two apple trees change daily . . . 

This morning the apple blossom opened up . . .

I hope the number of flowers means we will get lots of fruit this year!

I have to take my camera because there is something new every day.

This morning I saw bluebells flowering in Bicclescombe Park in Ilfracombe, North Devon . . .

The magnolias are also blooming too in a variety of colours . . .

It's a wonderful spring for blossom. All the trees are heavy with petals . . .

All we need now are lots of ducklings on the pond!

It's that time of the year when you have to look now or you'll miss something.

The blossom on apple trees . . .

. . . and in the park . . .

The new shoots on a rather sorry-looking holly cutting . . .

I could say I haven't got time to stop for this, but what I would really be saying is I haven't got time to live.

It's the best time of year.

The race is on . . .

. . . and six seedlings have germinated in our shed nursery.

Sunflowers are fun to grow and produce seed for birds or to eat.

So join in the competition and see who can grow the tallest sunflower.

Follow on twitter at @twunflowercomp and on facebook.

Well, on camera, anyway.

This pigeon landed in a tree in Bicclescombe Park in Ilfracombe, North Devon, looking very pleased with himself. He had a twig or something similar in his beak, possibly nesting material.

He seemed to think he could not be seen, but I had my camera . . .

I think he spotted me and didn't look very pleased . . .

. . . but he was up in the tree and I was on the ground where no one could reach him.

I took his photo, thanked him, then walked on.