Sunday 30 March 2014

Blackcap

another sign that Spring has arrived!
this morning we had our first sighting of a blackcap this year and one of the best views we have ever had of one here, this male stayed a long time, attracted to the remaining berries on our cotoneaster - hopefully he will keep returning now for more!
these photos were taken through our double glazed windows so apologies for the quality!





Tuesday 25 March 2014

lesser redpolls and siskin

I counted seven redpolls around the feeders today, it is great that they are still visiting our feeders, they arrived the week after the big garden bird watch, which of course is typical! - so they have been here for at least six weeks now:)

the siskin arrived around the same time and they too are still visiting, not in the same numbers of the lesser redpoll, but this striking male popped by today too.


Friday 21 March 2014

pressed garden flowers - second batch

My selection this week includes miniature daffodils - these were originally a gift from my cousin in a sweet little pot for the kitchen window sill, but after they flowered I planted them outside, where they have continued to flower year after year ever since; the first of my hellebores, I love hellebores and they are planted under a hedge on a slight bank so the low sun at this time of year shines through the petals beautifully; the very first sprig of blackthorn flowers from our hedge that was within reaching distance, we have had some in flower for a couple of weeks right at the top behind our utility out of reach which has been frustrating, but now even more has come into flower; a selection of heathers, these have been in flower for a few weeks now and there are plenty more to come; a snake's head fritillary flower, this one came from a pot of them I bought a couple of weeks ago, they have almost finished flowering for already, the ones I have had growing in the garden for a few years are just starting to bud and those in the wild won't be anywhere near flowering yet;  and yet more primulas too, not just primroses this time.


Friday 14 March 2014

pressed spring flowers

snowdrops and primroses from my garden


now I just have to decide what I am going to do with them!

Tuesday 11 March 2014

My first session in the garden this year

I would be the first to admit that my garden had been neglected over the last few months, but the days I had free to be out there we had rain and I like to enjoy my gardening, not consider it a chore, today the sun shone and I had a free couple of hours so I set to!
Before





After

I still have to weed the gravel but that will be another day, I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow and I need to be able to move, so I am not going to over do it today. One huge bumblebee made an appearance - spring is certainly beginning to show itself:)