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.

Perfect Paperwhites (and the not so perfect.)

Beautiful Paperwhites

I am delighting in these at the moment, a lovely Christmas gift from a dear friend.

Thank you :o)

x x x

Hello everyone!  Hope you are well and warm despite the continuing cold (but happily dry) weather.

Things here are much the same, we still haven't heard from the Memory Service so as yet Mom continues to be undiagnosed.  I think the extra dose of anti depressant is starting to work though as she does seem a little more settled - which is good :o)

I have been very good (for a change) and have only bought home one 'bargain' ;o)

a super Portmeirion 'Birds of Britain' rolling pin in superb condition, showing six species..

The Bearded Tit and Blue Tit

Red Poll and Linnet

Green Finch and Gold Finch

I cannot find out much information about this range other than production stopped around twenty  years ago.  Anyone out there know more please?  Oh, almost forgot it was only £2 :o)

- - - -

The birds have very busy in the garden seeking food and water.  I feed them a wide variety of food daily (and in very bad weather as much as three or four times a day) and ensure there always water available for them as it is most important they are able to bathe to keep their feathers in the best condition possible for much needed insulation. The front garden has the waterfall running on the pond of course, and the little ones are often seen splashing around in their own personal jacuzzi !  The back garden poses more of a problem though, so with a little imagination I've rigged up a 'heated' pool for them (though of course not really hot!)

I used three bricks, an enamel plate and a tea light and holder.  The candle is far enough away to keep the water liquid without heating the water above a few degrees.

Simple!

And here's one of our braver visitors.

One of the Robin visitors from our healthy population, but yesterday I discovered that not all visitors enjoy good health...

On first appearance this male Great Tit seemed to be quite healthy, and had been happily feeding on peanuts for some time - but then I noticed the other side of his head was quite wrong.

(WARNING YOU MAY FIND THE NEXT IMAGE DISTURBING)

but, when he turned his head this swollen (injured?) side was shown.

I was quite upset and grabbed the camera.  Since taking, and after investigating the RSPB site  I've found out that it is suffering from Avian Pox, a disease I'd never heard of before.  The information says that the Great Tit is susceptible to the disease, and it can recover completely but there is no treatment for wild living birds.  I shall keep a special watch out for him and see if he is a regular visitor from now on.  There is a download link to report occurrences, and I have sent the information off.  So keep a look out just in case you have diseased birds too.

- - - -

We have to replace fencing in the garden this year, and the new one will be erected in the coming week, so I shall make some before and after shots for my next post.  Sadly though I shall be loosing some well established ivy, so it is imperative the fencing is replaced before the birds start nesting.  Today I intent to wrap up (very) warm (as it's still below freezing) and dig out some bulbs that will be in the firing line of the workers to save them from their size 10's!  Also to try and find/rescue a last years Robin's nest, which has so far been too well hidden.  We will also have a new fence and gate erected in the front garden, but more of that too in my next post. (Don't worry though hedgehogs will still have the free access they enjoy normally.)

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Best wishes

P.S.

Can anyone (UK) recommend a SIMPLE, large buttoned remote control for digital, Freeview TV's?  Mom is driving me slowly nuts, her remote has tiny buttons and she must press (and hold down) two or three at a time then consequentially looses ALL the channels :o(  I've only had to re-tune it twice (so far) today!  Thank you.

x

Nothin' much in the way of bargains.

Hi folks !

Thank you for your lovely comments on the award :o)

Nothing much doing on the bargain front at the moment, though of course I have a hoggie update.

May is still visiting though her white spot is hardly visible any more, here's a photo of her gobbling up some of the mountains of dried mealworms I scatter around the borders each night.

(This lot is between the rhubarb and the cat-nip)

and close up :o)

Too busy eating!

Then, a few nights later (I think it was Friday) It was boiling hot and DRY (!) we had the door wide open, hubby was busy on his lap top when we heard a loud snuffling. 

"What on EARTH is that?" asked hubby,

"Hedgehogs" I replied.

"No way, it's too loud!"

"Go see if you don't believe me then."

The smaller (male) on the right of the photo was snuffling loudly, and the female was circling him - that SHOULD have been him doing the circling, but he was quite immature.

Round and around

and around they went, for the next 35 minutes!

The snuffling getting louder and louder... and still they circle!

Finally, the little lady gave up and trotted off to feed , leaving 'him' dizzy, wondering what had happened!
I know that this IS mating behaviour, but I'm positive that 'he' is just too young to mate - He certainly enjoyed the practicing though ;o)
(Notice how lovely and shiny their spines are, they were in very good condition.)

I love poppies, and at the moment there are quite a few making me smile broadly in the garden, here's a shot of a favourite self seeded variety - hence no name.

I  love it's shaggy centre :o)  of course it has raindrops on it.

  

And more coming into bloom - what joy!

I had to go to town for a hairdressing appointment last Wednesday.  The car park is surrounded by trees, and as they've been cutting some down I'm always on the look out for (free) additions to my log piles, when I was wondering about I found an amazing array of fungi growing.

And finally,

Now, I really must have a look for to see if I can identify them.

Hope you've enjoyed my ramble today.

Best wishes to all

Flowers for Leontein.

A huge HUG, with lots of love and support for Leontine.

Sending much love Leontine.

Linked with http://www.aruraljournal.com/p/flowers-for-leontien.html