Happy Christmas!

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas, happily spent as you choose.  I'd also like to send positive wishes out for a happy and healthy 2014.

I hope to be back soon posting and catching up with you all - I know I'm missing out on such a lot :o(

Lots of love dear friends.

Juvenile hedgehogs.

Hello folks!

Life continues to keep me too busy (read stressed!), so as usual posts are rare and fleeting.

Over four nights last week I captured 4 juvenile hedgehogs from the garden, their weights ranging from 250g to 300g which is far too small for them to hibernate overwinter as they need to be an absolute minimum of 600g (preferably 650g at this time of year.)  A neighbour bought another one to me that was wondering about in daylight - a SURE sign that there is something very wrong.

The lovely Joan who runs West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue has taken them all, despite being overrun with even more juveniles - she has been taking in  as many as 8 a day.   Sadly, despite her care and dedication the little chap found out in the day didn't make it, it's back leg had been injured (by a dog) and the wounds had become infected.  Joan had administered pain killer and antibiotics.

Joan with one of the hogs, 

The other four are all doing well and I shall return them back into the garden in the Spring.

Sadly, I just don't have a suitable place to overwinter these dear little creatures, and anyway they do need a health check to ensure they are in good health first.

PLEASE. keep an eye open for these hedgehogs as they DO need our help, without it they will most surely die.  

If you do find an injured/underweight or sick hog pick it up in an old towel and place it in a deep box (as they are good climbers) and place in a warm, dry place until you can find help (not in an outbuilding as it will be too cold.).  You should also place a hot water bottle (an old plastic drink bottle will do) wrapped in another towel to give heat as a sick hog will more than likely be suffering with hypothermia.  It is best if there is an area without heat so that they can move away if they get too hot.

Please note if you see a hedgehog out in daylight there IS something wrong, it WILL need help.

Visit the British Hedgehog Preservation Society web site for your nearest rescue centre.  

Remember that these centres are all voluntary and would benefit from even a small donation to help care for these endearing little creatures.

Here's a link to the Friends of West Midland Hedgehog Rescue Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-West-Midlands-Hedgehog-Rescue/173568902822170?fref=ts

Hope to be back soon.  In the meantime stay safe and well dear friends.

x x x

P.S.  I'm sorry to see that I have lost a follower, but I guess it's because I'm just making enough posts....

A Timely Reminder

Please pass it on.

Thank you

x x x

I've had a few bargains....

Hi folks, hope all is well in blogland.  

I realise that I haven't posted any finds, so to put thing right here's a few.

Hubs didn't quite know what to make of this one ;o)

From memory I think it was £1.25.

Just this week I found this glorious double Welsh woollen blanket.

It just needed a careful wash.  In perfect condition. 

£3 - yes, £3.  Even I was amazed at the price!

This wasn't actually a bargain find, I won it at the Hedgehog Rescue fundraiser day last month, but thought you'd like to see it.

(Sorry about the reflection)

I also bought this little felted beauty home.

Isn't he delightful?

(It's making me want to try felting....)

* * *

I've kept seeing a neglected old stone trough (full of weeds) outside the back entrance of one of our local businesses, and I finally plucked the courage to ask if they wanted to sell it.  The lady I asked got in touch with the owners and they asked if I'd like to 'make them an offer', if it was acceptable they'd donate it to the local Air ambulance.  I offered £20 which was accepted :o)

Dimensions 21.5" x 16.5" x 8" deep.

Even though it's seen a little life and had a crude repair I'm delighted with it, and am looking forward to finding it's 'forever home*' in the garden and planting it up.

(* It's just too flamin' heavy to keep moving around!)

* * *

Hedgehog catch-up

During the week I cleaned out the four hog boxes in the garden to ready them for any over-Wintering visitors.  Box 2 appeared to be empty when I started removing the hay, but nestled up a corner was a hog :o)  I took him out to weigh and mark him and was amazed to find he weighed 850 grammes - wot a whoppa!  (At this time of year hedgehogs need to be a minimum of 600 grammes to safely hibernate through the Winter months.)  I didn't have the camera handy, so sorry there's no pictures of him.  Though because of it's weight I'm pretty sure it's either  Otto or Archie as they were both huge.  He's now sporting an 'X' on his head and christened X-man.

Over the last few weeks there's been less and less spiky visitors to the garden, which I'm finding a little worrying as these dear little creatures should be fattening up.  I'm just hoping they've found another good food supply somewhere.  I shall still continue to leave a good supply of crushed peanuts, sunflower hearts, sultanas and dried mealworm out for them.  (Whole peanuts would lodge in their mouths and could choke them or prevent them from eating.)  I have tried over the years leaving both wet and dried cat food out but it's ignored in favour of the mealworm.

Mmmm!  Mealworms!

Best wishes to all

x x

Wollerton Old Hall Garden.

Hi Folks!  Thank you for your wonderful comments and welcome back on my last post.  

I MUST also welcome two new followers to the fold, great to see you here :o)

As promised last time this post is about the fabulous private gardens I visited with my dear friend George's Mom.  Wollerton Old Hall Garden (the hall is a private residence and not open to visitors.)

They are open from 12 noon to 5pm on Fridays, Sundays and Bank Holidays From Good Friday until The end of August, and Fridays only during September.  At the time it cost just £6 entrance fee - let me tell you it's well worth every penny.

I realise that they are now closed for the season, but believe me it's worth making a note of them for next year.  It's also a brilliant place for any budding photographers ;o) (I took around 180 photos!)  As you may guess this IS a photo heavy post.

The magnificent Old Hall which dates from the mid 1500's that magically appears as you walk along the twisting, tree lined driveway to the entrance of the gardens.

As you enter the gardens through the gate 

this is the first courtyard with it's amazing topiary.

and around another corner the 'Old Garden'

leading to 'The Rill Garden', it took a long time to get a clear shot as there were so many visitors that day.

The flower beds are a most astounding site, and I've NEVER seen so many different types of very busy bees in one place.

and from the other end of this walk..

such wonderful shapes...

Like 'The Lime Walk'

colours,

and I was assured scents - I have no sense of smell :o(

The bees were intent on work and not bothering anyone.

I see 7 here, can you see more?

comin' in to land 

Some were even nesting amidst the topiary!

Butterflies galore!

 and curious caterpillars too..

The Well Garden

Just around the corner from here there is a very lovely tea rooms filled to the brim with luscious food and drinks.

and just at the far end of that shot the tallest hollyhocks I've seen, again covered in bees...

heavily dusted 

with pollen :o)

There is also an 'old' summer house, where I could have happily sat

and enjoyed more flowers.

before leaving by the other door,

and looking back

over these oak gates :o)

Yes, that was a most enjoyable day that I can highly recommend it.

Best wishes to you all.

x x x

Forgot to say, there's a brilliant plant nursery too - guess who bought a few back with her ;o)