Garden Diary 23rd to 30th May 2015

 So these are a few things that caught my attention this week....

 

The Weigela always puts on a spectacular show.

 

 

Just love the way the light shows through the starlings wings

 

 

Pretending not to notice each other for now,

 but any minute now they will be

pushing and shoving like Sumo-wrestlers - they are so funny!

 



'Nick' the yellow-necked mouse

He's just got to be called 'Nick' with that lump
 missing out of one of his ears.
And boy can he move fast - it was dusk, photo taken through 2 panes of glass and a 'Yellow-necked mouse' that is there one minute and the next a streak of blur!


thanks for stopping by ...I'll be back regularly now x



Todays Pickings

We didn't really plan to grow anything this year but after a late decision to do some, luckily the weather made up for lost time and things are coming along nicely

There was one poor little strawberry left that somehow we managed to cut in half and share.
Made this digital layout using a kit called 'Jade' by Algera Designs

Cool Birds

Well for the last week it has been really quite hot here on the east coast of England. 
I have decided that spring and autumn are definitely my favourite times of year; the summer sun doesn't like me much. 
My poor old computer has been chugging away in the heat, gasping for breath on a few occasions, a bit like me, and so I have turned it off for a while to let it cool down.
Consequently I am a bit behind with what’s been going on in the garden.

The birds have been desperate to cool down too

© Gibby Frogett

© Gibby Frogett

 

 

Managed to capture some young Blue Tits having fun in a bottle bath.  Aren't they just adorable all wet and be-draggled.

© Gibby Frogett

 

Also saw a Great Tit too, something which I seem to be seeing less of lately. Could be one of those phases; things disappear for a while then suddenly return. Hope that’s the case for the Thrushes as not seen one for about a month or so now.

First young Robin 11th July 2013

At last - seen our first young Robin - about time too after the amount food the adults have been taking away over the last few months. Just as well we have our bird food delivered by the sack load!
Not good photo as taken again through glass.

Robin (juvenile) © Gibby Frogett

 ADJUGA © Gibby Frogett

The Adjuga is starting to fade and die but I quite like the colours it changes to first, its like having another plant flower as it's so different to the original colour.

 

DUNNOCK SUNBATHING   © Gibby Frogett

I couldn't believe how this Dunnock was spread out on the narrow horizontal strut of the fence. He did look funny, all fluffed up and trying to stretch out in the same way it would if on the ground.
He nearly fell off a few times too.

DUNNOCK © Gibby Frogett



DUNNOCK © Gibby Frogett

Birds always look so manic when they fluff up their feathers and have their mouth wide open.

LILAC BARK © Gibby Frogett

I thought this photo of some Lilac bark might be useful for some art projects as loved the texture. Not sure it's particularly healthy for the Lilac though.

In the garden 10th July 2013

I've had one of those weeks where you have to wait in for delivery men. One of those weeks, listening for the doorbell that doesn't ring after all as they have messed up delivery (grrrrrrrrrr) but now hopefully will come the next promised day... i.e tomorrow.. fingers crossed.....

So I've had lots of time to look and see what's going on in the garden - lots of activity as normal and there's been plenty of water fun too with the birds as it's been so hot.

© Gibby Frogett

SPIREA  © Gibby Frogett

© Gibby Frogett

The Spirea is starting to bloom.  A lovely Lacy looking flower.
This is so pretty when its in bud too.





 SPARROWS © Gibby Frogett

 

The Sparrows loved to investigate the water and have a little splash about.

DUNNOCK © Gibby Frogett

After the Sparrows had gone a Dunnock was more brave and sat under the running water for quite a while, fluffed up and enjoying himself splashing about too. That's him under the water on the left.



DUNNOCK © Gibby Frogett



ABUTILON © Gibby Frogett

© Gibby Frogett



I love the Abutilon although it's not been the easiest thing to grow. It's a bit straggly with not many leaves, although having said that it's the best its looked despite having been recently dug up and put in a pot for now.



MAGPIE FAMILY © Gibby Frogett

 

 

An awful photo I know, but taken through a couple layers of glass - had to grab camera quickly before they flew off. Thought they had two youngsters and this was the first time I'd seen the family altogether.

In the garden 9th July 2013



Yesterday was another hot sunny day, with lots of activity as usual.
There were many young Blackbirds coming and going in the garden, sometimes by themselves or other times with adults.




© Gibby Frogett

 

Dunnock preening and sunbathing.....© Gibby Frogett

The Dunnock is a particular favourite of mine and fortunately there always seems to be one or more about to watch their antics.
I've noticed that they don't always get on with the Robin though and seem to chase each other where possible. 
Like the Robin, they also love the little yellow fat pellets. A few years ago I had a Dunnock I could throw the pellets to and he would run about for them.




 Japanese Anemone © Gibby Frogett

In the garden at present, the Japanese Anemone is starting to bud up. These always seem easy to grow; cut them down short, pull them about and they still seem to re-appear.

The Snow-in-Summer is now starting to die, the Aquilegia gone to seed. The Abutilon is blooming nicely, as is the Blue-eyed-grass.
The Hebes look like they will be blooming fairly soon too.



Lychnis © Gibby Frogett

I love the bright colour and contrast of the Lychnis with its silvery grey leaf and almost fluorescent flowers.

Another flower that's easy to grow, it doesn't mind dry conditions. Seeds very easily too - sometimes too easy as it spreads every where, but it's very striking and cheers the garden up.



© Gibby Frogett



Sparrows having a dust bath © Gibby Frogett

 

I couldn't resist trying to get this photo. At one point there were
about eleven Sparrows rolling about in the dust having a lovely old time.
I'm so pleased that our numbers have really increased over the last year or so.

Garden visitors first week July

Plenty of activity still going on in my garden; with lots of varied parents collecting food for their young and flying off with it.

Occasional visits of Starling and Blackbird families with young in tow desperate to be fed. Lots of gaping beaks and chirping babies saying 'feed me, feed me'.
The parents sometimes ignore the young, fly off and the abandoned (lazy?) little one then feeds itself quite capably until mum or dad returns, then it shouts 'feed me, feed me' once again. Poor old parents are starting to look a bit shattered now.

The pair of Robins are back and forth constantly feeding and collecting food still and taking it away.
If there's no food, they come looking for it and try to attract my attention.
I'm sure they have had a couple of broods already but so far I have seen no young Robins at all this year.


© Gibby Frogett

 



I don't see hardly any butterflies or insects like I use to, so I like to try to get a photo when possible if I see any.




some sort of Shield Bug   © Gibby Frogett



Meadow  Brown Butterfly (male?)   © Gibby Frogett



Juvenile Magpie © Gibby Frogett

For several months a pair of Magpies have been regular visitors. They have at least two young, but this one remained in garden when one of the adults flew off and was fairly happy to pose for me.