In the garden today...

 This was meant to be a post about what is flowering now in the garden but I was completely side-tracked by birdwatching...

Bluetits hunting for insects...

Jackdaws feeding. One bird drops the seed to the others waiting below.

Sometimes it feels like it isn't me doing the watching!
(sparrow, jackdaw, blackbird)

Flowering in the garden now are lilac, Californian lilac, knapweed, early climbing roses, clematis, Mexican orange blossom, bluebells, forget-me-knot, strawberries, snow-in-summer, heather, daisies, dandelions and white clover.

Beautiful June

Everything seems to be flowering at once this month in the garden. The warm wet weather has bought lots of buds and growth but not so many butterflies this year. The prolonged wet weather was not good for the outdoor vegetable seeds, I'm on my second lot of bean sowings as the first were lost to slugs and pigeons but have managed to get some shallots and rhubarb going. 

I have begun another lawn spiral, this time in the front, they start off pretty unruly but after few mows settle down. If you are tempted to try one & have an electric mower, please make sure you remember where the cable is at all times. 

Lawn spiral

Nigella, tiarella & green alkanet

bearded iris, knautia and lavender

tea rose

Springtime in the Garden

 Happy St. David's Day!

After a weekend of beautiful blue skies & warm temperatures the little daffodils in the garden have bloomed, a lovely sight after a dismal winter. I have spotted bumble bees, honey bees & a brimstone butterfly over the weekend, along with more garden birds making the most of the sunshine.

Spring means it's time to reach for the seed tin, check what seed is still viable from last year & work out sowing times. I use a moon phase planting calendar to help plan timings. For germination, especially if sowing directly outside, it seems to help. There is a full moon towards the end of March so will aim to sow outdoors by then, if no frosts are forecast. 

I have bought some new flower seed for this year, Helianthus annuus 'Sonja' for the bees, some Mexican Marigold for companion planting, Phlox drummondii 'Creme Brulee' to fill in the borders & Brachyscome multifida 'Blue & White Mix' to use in pots for the patio. I found a few self-seeded foxgloves growing well & a few strawberry runners which have survived my neglect & the fierce recent frosts, these welcome free plants are always a bonus. 

 

Garden in May...

During the coronavirus lockdown, I have been posting a series of photos each day taken while strolling around our garden. I've posted these on Facebook and Twitter and, for me, they seem to be a moment of quiet and calm amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the pandemic...

Today, I'm posting up a series of  short videos which I hope will give a feel for what's in the garden now.

Garden Stroll...