You know it's spring at Muntanui when . . .

Bees. Please. Now.

• The steer tries to have his way with the bull.
• After two months of incredibly mild weather, it all goes to hell for the entire month of September.
• "Bagging up" has nothing to do with groceries and everything to do with ewes' udders.
• It rains. And rains. And rains and rains and rains.
• Everyone in the district celebrates the return of the godwits. This coincides with the return of the sandflies -- which no-one celebrates.
• Fruit trees either blossom when there are no bees around to pollinate them or 24 hours before icy gales and snow, which then blow/freeze the flowers off.
• We beg the grass to start growing.
• Random daffodils that we've never seen before bloom in the orchard.
• There's a lull in the weather four days before the first lambs are due, with a cold snap forecast for the day itself.

Posted by Farmer Nik