The garden is busy. Flowers are appearing by the day and birds are flocking to the food we put out. We’ve had a pair of Blackcaps visiting. The male lives up to his name with a little black cap on top of his head. The female is paler but still very pretty.
When I looked out of the kitchen window I saw a male Blackcap on the ground taking sunflower seeds. I called Allan and when we both looked out a beautiful male Bullfinch had joined him. The male Bullfinch is a fabulous deep pink. Such a lovely sight. Unfortunately by the time we fetched the camera they had flown.
We also had a Sparrowhawk. It landed in the Hawthorn tree above the spot where some of the birds feed. I think it was after the little Blackcap. They both flew across the garden. Don’t know if it caught the Blackcap. I hope not but then again the Sparrowhawk has to find food too.
It has been very windy again. It’s been howling around the outside of the house and causing some draught indoors. The other night, I was awake in the night and a little poem came to me as I listened. Here’s what I wrote.
Listening to the Wind The house rattled,the wind blew, Whistling, moaning, Ever new. Never still, it poked around, Rasping, grazing, Restless sound. The chimney sang a sad song, Whining, ringing, All along. And while it blew, I snuggled So warm, so safe, Untroubled!
The parsnip wine is diddling along in it’s bucket. Each day I give it a stir and replace the lid securely to keep out anything that could spoil it. Dust could introduce moulds and a summer wine-making attracts fruitflies which would turn the wine to vinegar if they got in.
It smells really nice and if I remove a sip it tastes a little more wine-like and pleasing every day.
If I put my ear to the lid I can hear it bubbling. A really pleasing sound. It will stay in the bucket for another few days and then I’ll strain it through a sterilised bag and funnel into a demijohn to finish fermenting. More details and photos when the time comes.
On Sunday we had a few hours before the rain when we could do some work outside. Allan washed the polytunnels inside and out. I’ll be ready to sow some seeds soon now that the tunnels are ready.
I cleared away a lot of old foliage from the Erigeron at the edge of the path behind the house. These are lovely plants with tiny pale pink daisies which flower all summer. The bees and other insects flock to them. They self-seed readily so I don’t put the stems into our compost, otherwise I’ll have them growing everywhere.
One of the things I love about gardening is the way it keeps you connected to nature. As I worked I found some lovely things. A big worm appeared from below. I uncovered a tiny green caterpillar. I wonder what that is destined to be? A moth or a butterfly perhaps? A Ladybird crawled out with it’s beautiful shiny red back on show. A lovely pale yellow snail shell lay under the tangle of stems and a pure white downy feather lay on the path.
Of course my camera was in action.
And I was surprised to see a bee feeding on the early nectar in a crocus flower. A welcome sign that warmer days are on their way. If you look closely at my photo you’ll see that the bee has pollen all over him. He will be carrying that when he visits other flowers and pollination will take place. A neat little trick!
I make no apology for talking so much about the garden today. A garden gives you hope. Life can be a struggle at times but if you have even the tiniest garden there is always something to look forward to. Those bulbs planted in Autumn, just about to come up and open their lovely faces to the sun. Maybe the satisfaction of producing something good to eat. The birds visiting the feeders, eating berries on your shrubs or showing signs of pairing up.
I saw a Dunnock land on the top of the hanging basket pole yesterday and sing two bursts of a lovely song. Then a female flew towards him. He fluttered his wings in a courtship dance and then they flew down together and pecked around. A lovely thing to see.
The garden is responding to the warmer days now and is looking prettier all the time. Here are a few of my latest photos.
I discovered one of my snowdrops has a double flower. A pretty frilly centre when I tipped it up and looked inside to see the fresh green marks on the petals.
One Spring we were at Attingham Park in Shropshire and they had lovely tulips for sale. I didn’t buy them because we had tulips at home in the garden but I took a photo and later did a painting of them.
I hope you are enjoying your garden if the weather is kind enough. There is nothing so uplifting. Stay safe. With you again in a few days.
Living a contented creative life. 