New additions

Hi folks, once again I apologise for my lack of posts.  Last time I mentioned that I was going to release another two hedgehogs from the local hedgehog rescue centre.   

You probably know that I have already built and installed three hedgehog houses into the garden, but because two of them were already inhabited I'd decided to build a fourth one :o)

(I really should make a plan of them in case any of you would like to make one too.)

Anyway, here is the completed house.

It has been placed at the side of the conservatory (as this is the only place left to fit one in!)

Joan arrived with two boxes of precious cargo on the 6th May, and I transferred the two ladies into my own (cat) carriers so that they were secure until darkness fell.  They were then put into the darkened laundry until the evening came and I could release them into the world.  They had both been hand reared and didn't really have much knowledge of the outside world.  As you know I name all the hogs I release and of course these little girls have names to, so may I introduce the two little wrigglers:

Mavis

(who now sports a white spot on each side)

and her buddy

Myrtle
(who has an inverted 'T' on her behind)

Little Myrtle again.

Once darkness came I placed each one into a new home, and waited for them to pluck up the courage to come out and investigate.  Mavis was the bravest, and was out and about devouring food within five minutes, Myrtle however was a little more shy and it was around 30 minutes before she came out to investigate.

Here's Mavis

Just about to hoover up the pile of mealworms.

(Sorry the shot is out of focus)

Since then Mavis has been a regular in the garden, either by over-nighting and also feeding.

Myrtle must have ranged further away as I've only seen her twice since release.

Archie is also a regular, and likes the ladies ;o)

You can probably, just make out his stripe - he's the hog on the left, the other one I've called Spotty as he has a lighter spot on his right bum cheek.  They met up in the feeding box.

I've started to keep a log of each hog I see, and also the over-nighters sleeping in the boxes.

It appears we have a neon 'Travelhog' sign placed by the gate, visible to hedgehogs only!  They seem to spend a night or two in one box, then disappear for another couple of nights when another moves in, in it's place.  Some nights, like last night all the boxes were empty.  It's amusing me no-end :o)

Here's another few visitors...I wonder if Wilfrid, Winifrid or May (some of last years releases) are amongst them?  I'm afraid I no longer have any way of knowing as their paint marks would have long since rubbed off.

Who ever they are, they're in good condition :o)

* * *

I have been amusing myself this afternoon trying to get shots of Mommy and Daddy Robin as they frantically flit in and out of the nest feeding their brood.  We have no idea how many little ones there are as the ivy has now covered the hole completely.   Here are the better shots.

I was trying to get an 'action' in flight shot, sadly this is the best I could do:

and if you think that's bad, this was the worst!

So, help need please.  Some of you have the MOST astounding photographs of animals in action shots, come on - HOW DO YOU DO IT?  I use a Panasonic FZ38 set onto outdoor sport mode.  I've tried other settings but to no avail, can anybody point me in the right direction please?

Well, I truly hope I'm not boring you to death with my very own 'Nature Watching'.

I'll be back again as soon as I'm able, again please forgive me not visiting and commenting too often   I'm really missing visiting you, but some days I don't even get around to switching on the laptop at all.

Sending my very best wishes to you all.

x x

Remember this?

Our back garden 01st March this year after the new fence had been erected?  An awful lot of bare earth and no plants.

Well look at it now!  It's filled out a bit now.

I know the archway need trimming somewhat, but I was too late - we have house sparrows nesting there.

There's an arum lily in this little bed, the daffs come every year (over by now though) and the polyanthus are just filling the gap until lily returns.

The lush green leaves in the raised border is monks hood (aconite).  The rock that makes the border was once upon a time our fireplace.

A golden delicious (hubs favourite) apple tree on dwarf root stock in the blue planter

A peach in the foreground and cherry to the right (both on dwarf root stock)

The ivy growing up the garage...notice a hole about an inch from the top of the photo?

You may just see the robins eye peeping, she's sitting on eggs :o) (Possibly 4 to 6 eggs)

She will sit alone for up to 13 days until they incubate, the male has been very busy bringing her food.  Looking forward to baby robins.

I still have a clematis montana to plant and allow to scramble along the fence, another clematis to plant against the house wall along with three small holly bushes to put in.  I tend to fill borders with all sorts as I don't like to see bare earth.

Have a good week folks.

Spring has sprung.

Hello you lovely people, and thank you for all the lovely comments and emails I receive.

Some years ago South Staffs Council gave away small trees to residents (who applied for one)

as part of the Forest of Mercia planting, I was lucky enough to be awarded a Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier Lamarckii).  I pruned it back quite hard in February before the sap was rising along with the verigated wigelia it sits along.  This afternoon was nice and sunny and the blossoms were opening..

They make me smile :o)

* * * 

I've only bought one item since my last post (see how good I'm getting),  it caught my eye as soon as I walked through the doors....

Lovely, hand carved wooden fungi  which stands about 8" tall and for £1.50 it came home with me.

* * * 

Of course there IS the promised hedgehog update.  All the released hogs have been spotted and the night of the 26th/26th April was a bumper one SIX HOGS visited!  I'm pretty sure that it was because it rained for the first time in many weeks and all the little invertebrates were out and about.

The night view from the door that night with the hogs food box in the foreground (I have plans to made a better one soon).  As you can see I have plenty of water out for both birds and mammals.

Can you see a stone hedgehog in left of centre?  On a very recent visit to a garden centre these were spotted at an AMAZING £10 each!  It's so heavy that I cannot lift it.  (I asked why they were SO cheap and was told that their supplier had sent them last year as an 'extra' to their order, the managers didn't like them and didn't put them on sale (?) They had repeatedly asked the suppler to collect them and in the end the supplier gave them credit for them and told them to do as they wished with them and so they sold them off....wish I'd have had another one too.

I've seen similar Owls in the garden centres for around £50.

Sweet Olivia made her first appearance looking happy and healthy :o)

Archie seemed bigger than ever!

(I just didn't get photos of them all.)

Sporting his stripe of course.

then there was a new arrival, a tiny little hog that must have survived the Winter somehow

It was snuffling about here under the old, leaky water butt.

(Such a sweet little face)

We also had my 'live in ' nameless lodger, and another local that I've christened 'Spot' due to a patch of pale spines on his bum!  And finally Otto called in too - a real party!

When I was in the garden this morning photographing the blossom I spotted another old friend in the ground feeder.

One of the wood mice that inhabit my dry stone wall, I'm so happy they are still thriving and not a bit of bother at all.

* * *

Well, I shall have to go as I still have to put out the hog and bird food.  

Hoping you are all well and have a great week!

Best wishes to all

xx

P.S.

I will soon have another TWO rescue hogs to release!

Not many purchases...

Hello folks, hope all is well with you.

Nearly a month since my last post and lots of things been happening around here keeping me busy (especially Mom) who's been loosing lots of things, even her false teeth!  They haven't been found and we are convinced  they have been 'flushed' away...four weeks later the good old NHS had made her a replacement set and her bank balance is £209 pounds lighter (the dentist has given her the moulds to keep though - just in case....  

Keys are moving around the flat at an alarming rate, and that flippin' TV remote is still giving me grief too.  

I've actually managed to get into the gardens and have been sorting out, though still seeds sit in the packets awaiting planting.  I finally risked taking over-wintering plants out of the green house this week.  I shall have to take a few photos now the daffs are out.

I'm certainly cutting back on finds too, but have just a few to show you.

Spode Blue Italian coasters x 6 for £2.50 :o)

Old Willow pattern ginger jar minus lid

that I'll use as a pen jar in the study

50p

Pretty 30's cruet  75p

Little Tortoise (Calico) cat to add to the collection

£1

* * *

Though it seems an AGE since the snow and ice was around here I never got around to posting an amazing thing.  Driving down one of the lanes as the snow was melting during the day and then freezing temperatures at night I found this sight..

Puddles in the road, but in the hedge a wall of..

ICICLES!

There was only this one patch running for around 12 feet along where the cars had sprayed through the puddles.  (The hedge is around 4 feet high)

I've never seen anything like it before, have you?

* * *

Now, you knew that my dear little hedgehogs would be getting a mention!

I had a call from Joan at the rescue centre on Sunday afternoon, one of the remaining two hogs I'd rescued as an Autumn Juvenile was ready for release, could I collect him?  You betcha!

It was around 27th October last year that I took Otto in, he was very wee and weighed in at 354gms.  Well things have certainly changed...

Meet BIG BEEFY OTTO now, drum roll please.

Weighing in at 1040gms!  (Still as spiky)

I painted the obligatory white marking on him before release to ensure I can identify him.

He was snuggled into one of my hog boxes, all snugly lined with hay and left to his own devices.  Within around 2 minutes he sped off and hasn't been seen since :o(  I'm confident he's okay though and know he'll return eventually if only to fill up on the free meal worms!

Then, yesterday Joan rang again - Olivia is out of her (short) hibernation and raring to go!  So she was collected last night.  She was 238gms when I Joan took her for the Winter.  Just look at the  my little sweetheart now :o)

756gms, and still tame and not nearly as spiky as Otto!
She too had her spines marked for ID and was snuggled into a hog box, but surprise, surprise she's done a bunk too....

Joan had quite a few other hogs needing new, safe homes after being overwintered and as I had another spare box - yes, you've guessed I bought Archie home too :o))

Now, he's a REAL big boy weighing in at 1059gms.  Also marked for ID and has also done a bunk!

I do have one resident hedgehog though, and there are at least two others visiting each night.  I shall keep my eyes peeled for these three, and although it's sad that they haven't decided to stay in my garden I'm happy that they have a darn good start and have an excellent chance of living a happy hoggie life, and you never know some hedgehog babies (now I'd LOVE that!)  If I do have any sighting of them I will of course tell you!

Sending my very best wishes to you all.

More garden visitors and an accident :o(

Hello friends

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post - you ARE a lovely lot!

I mentioned we'd had a pied wagtail visiting that I hadn't managed to capture an image.  Well, when I got up this morning it was back again and I grabbed the camera and took these through the bedroom window - I'm frankly amazed they turned out so well. 

I love their plumage

as you can see the snow has been melting despite freezing temperatures overnight.

Then I saw a strange bird flitting about...as you can see it was difficult to snap!

it's about the size of a dunnock, but you can just about see a chestnut band that's the base of it's cap.  (The orange blob in the crook of the branches is home made bark butter recipe below)

It was almost as vivid as a robins breast.  After checking my books I realised it was a female blackcap :o)  I've never had one in the garden before...I shall keep my eyes peeled to see if it comes again.

* * * *

Then came the accident.  

Some of you may recall I finally found a reasonably priced glass cloche (here)

I loved it - but this morning I knocked it off the table (sob)

The shattered remnants.  It was not to be :o(

* * * *

Recipe for birds 'Bark Butter'.

(I made half this quantity)

(Taken from Denise at House at Forest Manor, who took it from Whitneys Bird Blog - thank you both.)

2 cups of lard

2 cups peanut butter (smooth or crunchy) I used smooth

4 cups corn meal / polenta / maize meal (depending on where you are!)

2 cups bird seed/dried mealworms/dried fruit mixture (or any one of them)

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon honey

I just put all the mixture into a BIG bowl and mixed it together wearing gloves by 'squidging' it.  It IS VERY STICKY!

The birds love it - especially the starlings (of course!)

I've pushed it into the crooks in the bushes where they meet and into a suet log.

I've stored the remainder in a sealable plastic bag.

I do have a few finds I'll show you in my next post.  See you soon!

Best wishes