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.

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.

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.

Our first sunflower seedling has woken up on this glorious spring morning, although still has its hat on . . .

We also have too tiny tomato seedlings.

The accidental nectarine seedling is also now established in it pot and is growing fast . . .

Snowdrops are lasting well too . . .

 

It's seeming to take forever, but soon we could be there. The smallest of our four sunflowers has now overtaken the other three and is now some 10ft tall, adding three or four inches every day. Flowers are slowly developing so I'm hoping they'll be out soon.

This sunflower was the smallest when planted . . .

. . . now it is almost 7ft tall and just forming a flower.

I'm not sure anyone can beat @llamakevin 's magnificent field of sunflowers. Our tallest one continues to grow, but no sign of a flower yet . . .

However, the tomatoes are really coming on: lots of flowers and fruit forming.

We could be tomato-ed out in a few weeks.

I just wish I could slow time down at this point of the year. From April to June everything seems to grow so fast. The poppies have come and gone in a blink and our wild rose has almost finished flowering.

Now the flowers on the bushes are developing into flowers. The raspberries look good . . .

. . . and so do the blackcurrants . . .

As you can see, I'm a practical gardener and love plants that provide produce. The runner beans are starting to flower, although still have a way to grow up the wall, and the tomatoes are too.

So while it will be wonderful to eat the beans and tomatoes, and make jams and puddings, I don't want the summer to pass by too fast.

I do enjoy flowers though and think the colour of these (haven't a clue what they are ) is stunning . . .

I go away for three days and look what happens . . .

Were these the beans that Jack swapped for the cow?

These are the first sunflowers I've grown successfully so I'm quite pleased. The fun of the @twunflowercomp is watching the sunflowers grow . . . and grow . . . and grow . . . and grow . . . 

Can't wait for the flowers!