Quick Update

Garden Nesting Activity

The Blue Tit eggs hatched last Wednesday 18th May. It was initially difficult to count the nestlings but finally counted nine so all the eggs have hatched!
(Sorry photos not the best!).

I thought the young wrens had fledged at the weekend but I was wrong - the adults are still going in and out of the nest. I spent ages trying to get a photo which is difficult as I don't want to stop the adults feeding - this is the best I could manage. (I promise if you enlarge the photo you can just make out one of the adults perched among the patio pots and on it's way to the nest).

Moths and Butterflies

I've not been putting out the moth trap much over the last two weeks as catches were so low - Shuttle-shaped Dart is the only new moth species for the year. There are several Holly Blues around the garden most days and we are still seeing the occasional Orange Tip.


Wildflower Meadow

The Yellow Rattle plugs have been planted in the Wildflower Meadow but we didn't really need to order them as hundreds of the seeds have germinated. As long as they all survive the meadow will look a picture when they all flower and hopefully the plants will help to eradicate the couch grass.

A few of the Yellow Rattle plants among other species

Frogspawn, Moths and Flowers

Frogs have been active in the pond - we finally have frogspawn - 3 clumps in the pond this morning :)

Sorry poor picture - low light and it was raining. Hopefully, may be able to get some photos of the frogs in action tomorrow.


I put out the moth trap a couple of times last weekend - 2 Common Quakers and a

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) (New for Year)

We bought this pot of red daisies as a joint Valentine's Day present and the daisies are still flowering well.

Our neighbour's camelia is flowering profusely whereas

we have just one flower on our red one and one flower on the white.

I bought this Euphorbia a few years ago and, although it did well for a year or two, it then "disappeared" so I was pleased to see it re-appear this year. Although from the look of old seedheads on it, it must have flowered last year too. Feeling rather unobservant!

There are lots of daffodils in flower.

The Hellebore I bought last year is still flowering

as are Snowdrops.

Primroses have been flowering since before Christmas and

Primulas have now appeared too.

The bluebells we inherited when we bought the house in 1978 are coming into bloom.

Lungwort is still in flower - I have another plant further up the garden which flowers later in the year.

Grape Hyacinths are appearing.

B's attempts to eradicate couch grass in the wildflower meadow do not appear to be going well :( He planted loads of Yellow Rattle in the autumn so it will be interesting to see what, if any effect, that has. I have a horrible feeling we won't get many wild flowers this year :(

Still no sign of any butterflies in the garden and no droneflies yet. I have seen a few bumble bees whizzing past the kitchen window and a Blue Tit has started taking nesting material into the nestbox with a camera.

I hope everyone has a lovely Easter.

I am off out to buy some bottled water as B is attempting to repair a leaking hot water pipe (which suddenly got a lot worse yesterday) in the bathroom and we currently have no running water :( The water I put in jugs and kettle etc. is rapidly being used up. So much for making a Simnel Cake today!

Moths, Butterflies, Spider and Flowers

I put out the moth trap last Friday and with a minimum overnight temperature of 4.9 degrees centigrade it wasn't surprising that there were very few moth species in the trap. Nothing seems to stop Large Yellow Underwing though as there were 21 individuals plus 4 Lesser Yellow Underwing, 6 worn Flounced Rustic and 1 Square-spot Rustic.

This beautiful Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) wasn't trapped but found on the landing the weekend before last. I should have taken a photo in a more natural environment as the wings resemble withered autumn leaves.

Echinops has produced more flowers than I expected this year following an attack of black fly!

Cosmos is flowering in nearly every border of the garden - a great flower for attracting insects especially bees.

We went out to our favourite blackberrying spot yesterday but only managed to gather enough to fill a small ice cream tub - most had already "gone over". In fact, when we got home we picked as many from the garden!

The wildflower area has been cut down - we left the seedheads lying round for a few days. As you may be able to see from the photo the dreaded Couch Grass is dominant. A huge packet of Yellow Rattle seeds has arrived in the post so, once the area is dug over, they'll be planted and it will be interesting to see the results!

Non-flowering Nasturtiums :(

Hanging baskets have done well this year although they are just starting to become "leggy". The colour combination is due to B collecting seeds from last year's plants and growing his own!

I've often bought pots of Chrysanthemums from Supermarkets in the past and they continue to do well if planted out in the garden.

Speckled Woods (Parage aegeria) in the garden

I saw my first Garden Small Tortoiseshell last week. Its been a poor year in the garden for this species, Comma's, Peacocks and Red Admirals although Holly Blues and Gatekeepers have done really well.



The flower and butterfly photos were taken with the Cannon Bridge Camera. It does have a tendency to over-expose flower photos when its sunny. I think Millymollymandy mentioned this? Will have to try lowering the ISO, and perhaps mess around with exposure compensation and possibly experiment with White Balance. White Balance is the one thing I tend to leave on Auto as changing it has often given some very peculiar results at least with the Olympus!


Finally, a couple of photos of a Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) spotted in the front garden yesterday.

I know a couple of you were interested in the id of the "bottle-brush" plant. Just to let you know I've received an email suggesting an id - its Bridewort or Willowleaf Meadowsweet (Spiraea salicifolia). Many thanks to Tony.

A Few Garden Flowers

Just a short post with a few flower pictures from around the garden. I did have some moth photos but for the life of me I can't remember which folder I put them in :( Since putting photos on external hard drive rather than on the computer I seem to be totally disorganised at putting photos in the right place :(


Orange lilies and a blue flower (I bought the plant from Hidcote but can't remember the name! Having far too many CRAFT moments at present :(

Chocolate Scabious - I fell in love with this flower last year at Packwood and my friend gave me one of her plants. Its done really well this year.

We've had this plant for years (haven't a clue what it is!!!) but its developed a new lease of life since B cleared one of the raised beds where it grows. The flowers are very pretty.

Cosmos and Coreopsis growing round the sundial. Coreopsis only lasts a few years in our garden so I am constantly replacing the plants as its one of my favourites.

I've had this Passion Flower for quite a few years but its never flowered.

The wildflower meadow has been disappointing this year as the dreaded couch grass is out competing many of the flowers. Even the half of the meadow that B completely dug over and re-seeded a few years ago is covered with the stuff. As a last resort we have bought a huge packet of Yellow Rattle seeds. This plant is semi-parasitic and out competes grass by feeding on its roots. Whether it will work on couch grass is another matter but I live in hope.

St John's Wort - very attractive to bees and hoverflies

Knapweed - loved especially by Red-tailed bumble bees

Mallow

Scabious

Campion has gone to seed - there is a spider lurking behind the group of 3 seedheads.