Day 22 Life Cycle of a Poppy – a Study This time of year it’s definitely poppy time in the garden. Once you have the Californian poppy in your garden you will always have it as it self seeds beautifully. I spent some time this week looking at a large double petalled red poppy in […]
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30 Days Wild. Days 19 to 21. House Martens, Dog Roses, and Ripening Strawberries
Day 19 House Martens Every year we have house martens nesting in the eaves of the house. Usually both at the back and front and sometimes with a double nest like a double decker. The one at the back of the house fell down last year so I was really pleased to see them starting […]
30 Days Wild. Days 10 to 12 Wildlife & a Great Big Hug
It’s been quite a quiet time these last couple of days with more emphasis on reflection and contemplation rather than on doing and creating. I find I am looking much more closely at what is going on in my garden. For example, there were 4 different types of bees feeding on my flower border today […]
Making A Bee Watering Hole
Everybody now knows how important our bees are and that some species in the UK are in difficulties. As gardeners we can help by encourage bees to our gardens by planting bee-friendly plants. We can also provide a water source for bees who regularly visit us. Many gardens, like mine, may not have any water […]
Make Space in your Garden for Hedgehogs: The Hampton Court Flower Show 2014
A vivid memory from my childhood is putting out cat food in the garden for the hedgehogs and then creeping out into the dark to spot them munching away. I haven’t seen this iconic mammal in the wild since then. The photo above was taken when we handled one from a Dorset Hedgehog Rescue Society […]
Nature at the London Wetlands Centre
My family and I just love the London Wetlands Centre. We have enjoyed so many visits over the years. My son held his 6th birthday party there, when the sun shone for us even in January. Our visit on Sunday did not disappoint. In fact it was perfection and lovely to revisit it after a gap of […]
Hampton Court Flower Show: The Birds and the Bees
I was lucky enough to visit the Hampton Court Flower Show on Monday. A wonderful visit made after a gap of several years with a New Zealand friend. I hadn’t really briefed her about what to expect from the Show. It made me realise that, of course, it’s not all about plants, flowers and vegetables. […]
OUT TO WATCH THE BIRDS
This is a regular January event in our household. It’s a really good family nature activity. I’m talking about the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. A nationwide event where you count the largest groups of birds in your garden and submit them to the RSPB so they can find out what is happening to our garden bird […]
Frogs in a Grow Bag
We have always had numerous types of frogs in our garden. A green frog watering can, stone frogs and some made of cast iron. Although we do not have a pond there have always been real frogs. One of which came all the way with me to the rubbish tip and back again. Than goodness […]
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
I visited the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London today. The photos were fantastic and inspiring. The sort of thing most of us can only dream about taking. What is most impressive is the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. The winner of the under 10 years […]
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