Good Day

Two of the flowers i moaned about yesterday have opened today.The Oriental Poppy looks like an orange silk tent with black spots, and a sweet like centre.I love how the petals blow in the wind like shimmering silk.

The ponds resident Flag Iris has opened its first flower today.The lemon yellow flower contrasts to the green of the stem, and leaves below.I love these traditional British Iris.They are simple but elegant.

After I came back from work I suddenly spied my elusive bird.The Greater Spotted Woodpecker.The same one that Cat saw the other day.The round fatball holder has seen hundreds of birds fly into the ring to eat the fatballs.This photo shows the Woodpecker, a baby Blue Tit, and a House Sparrow sharing the circular feeder.

Prior to this morning I had only the heard the rapid drumming of our local Woodpeckers.The news of the free fatballs must have reached the deciduous trees that run over the road behind the houses.

You can see from the photo his amazing feet clutching the cage of the feeder, and the powerful beak bashing the fatballs.I wander if he was feeding a clutch of baby Woodpeckers?He came about five times this morning and fed himself for ages.They are handsome birds with their red.black, and white coloured feathers.

It is a grey cool sunday, but im so happy about two of my flowers blooming, and of photographing the Woodpecker in our garden.Good day..

Great Expectations

The Rose Gertrude Jekyll is making me wait for the first Rose Bloom of the year.The Rose buds are swollen and the petals beginning to open slightly.Everyday I look and every day the Roses are not in bloom.I always am impatient for her beautiful scented blooms.

The Oriental Poppy Pizzicatto is nearly in flower.It will probably open tonight or tomorrow when i am working. The plant has some beautiful new growth on it, and should flower for years to come.It is a perennial rather than the annuals of common Poppies.

The Flag Iris flower has been exposed but remains stubbornly shut.I love the rich yellow colour and the striped pattern on the flowers.I am impressed that my small pot bound Flag Iris will flower for a second time.This is the first year it has had its roots in real water.Last year it was sat in a container filled with water to mimic a pond.I saw a Newt today trying to burrow through the Aquarium stones.He hit a brick wall and had to dive into the deeper water instead.

The garden has been hit by strong winds today and pots have been rolling about.I love the Flowers that are blooming.The primary colours are contrasting.Purple Lupins,Violas and Pansy's.Red Geums.White and purple Aliums.Yellow Buttercups.Pink and White Aquilegias.Dark Purple and White Aquilegias.

Ever since Cat said she saw a Woodpecker in our garden I have watched obsessively.I have not seen feather or beak of any Woodpeckers.Does anyone know how to attract them?

We hear them hammering away against the Trees in the deciduous woodland (where the Bluebells are)across the road.

The expectation of flowers and scents makes me go out everyday to look around the garden.We went shopping today to buy trays for the Plug Plants.450 need re potting when I'm off again.

Tonight is the Eurovision Song Contest.I will watch it with Cat, and hope that Blue (our entry) can do better than last place.I always watch it and hope for better results.

I will do a post tomorrow about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show which starts in ten days time.I wait expectantly for Chelsea every year in May.I dream of going to see it one day in person.

The flowers of my Rose,Flag Iris, and the Oriental Poppy always excite me as much as the greatest flower show on Earth.I hope they surpass my expectations this year.

May Flower

This Buttercup is growing in the sunken border.It is a beautiful flower with its golden yellow cup and intricate stamen holding its pollen aloft.I never planted this it was just growing.I left it alone to see what it turned out like.It is a very pretty volunteer plant.

I went shopping today for some trays for Cats plug plants.450 arrived yesterday via her Mum.Busy Lizzies,Petunias, and Violas.They all need growing on.

I went to Hampsons but could not find any trays.I will have to wait until Saturday to find them.I came back with a new Foxglove plant, two Buxus shaped like globes,a Jasmine houseplant on a frame, and a Bay Tree in a small pot.

I think the clipped Buxus balls would look good between the Roses,Hostas, and Dahlias.

Cat saw a Woodpecker today in the garden nibbling from the circular fat balls.I never saw him as i was plant shopping.I'm working the next two days so I hope Cat can get a photo for me.

I was also thinking about Topiary clipped animal shapes along the concrete path.I think you can buy frames which your Buxus grows through.Once its clipped it will look like the shape.

I pricked out eighty Leeks yesterday.The Vegetable plants I have been growing can go to the allotment soon.I spent three hours weeding it yesterday after the recent rain started all the weeds growing.The marked beds are waiting patiently for the plants to arrive.

The Brussel Sprouts,Pumpkin,Courgettes,Sweetcorn and Swedes are looking beautiful and have good root systems.The Cabbages,Cauliflower, and Broccoli are lagging behind.They need a bit longer to grow bigger leaves and better roots.I have French Marigolds,Borage,and Sage plants growing for companion planting at the plot.

At the plot the Carrots I sowed are starting to germinate in the raised bed.There was one and half rows of Peas that had germinated.The Parsnips had not done anything.The Potatoes were earthed up as they have finally started showing through their rows of mounded earth.The Onions are growing slowly.The Garlic looks really good too.

These days off have been very productive.There is lots to blog about over the next few days.

May Flowers And Frogs

The first photo shows some of Cats Hostas catching the raindrops.After the driest March and April it finally rained.We got our water butts fixed to the sheds down pipe.In one night the whole 220 litres was filled up to just under the pipe to the second Butt.I have now got a source of rainwater to use on the garden and to top the pond up with.It will be natural water with none of the chemicals that are typically used in our tap water.The sunshine and showers has caused the Hostas to explode into new growth. They line the gardens concrete path.I am trying to grow smaller pots of Hostas on hopefully into barrel planters.The concrete path seems to stop the slugs and snails damaging the leaves.The house sparrows are constantly flying into the Hosta pots, so maybe they are deterring the slugs and snails.

The Ceanothus has formed these beautiful blue flower buds just waiting to open.I hope that the Wakefield Bees will be drawn to these honey scented flowers. The buzzing noise around a California Lilac is one of the sounds of summer.

The Geum Mrs Bradshaw is flowering away with these crimson red flowers.They have yellow centres and are held in the air and move in the breeze.I'm hoping the Geum flowers much more than it did last year.It is almost double the size now on the corner of the sunken border.

One of the joys of this year has been to see Wildlife moving into the newly constructed pond.The Frog is chilling in the Flag Iris pot.The only gravel we could find at Hampsons was this coloured aquarium stones.This keeps the mud in the pot and stops it from spilling out into the pond.The Flag Iris is just opening its flower buds now.A hint of yellow at the end of the long green stems.These are a British Native Wetland plant, and have been around for thousands of years.They were the symbol of the Anglo Saxon Kings.Flowering in May and June they are one of the glories of the summer.

The pond edge has been softened slightly by the planting of grasses and flowers.I have sowed some Wildflower mix too in the area that surrounds the pond.There is a Frog hanging onto the side of the Flag Iris pot in the top centre of the photo.

This is a second Frog I photographed.He moved in a few days ago.I love how they sit and watch you slightly submerged.He was joined by a smaller darker Frog soon after I took this photo.I have had a weakness for frogs since i was small.I actually collect Frogs, ornaments and cuddly toys.They are like the Water spirits of the garden.After the Harsh winter killed ours I hope that this winter will not be as severe for them.The pond is much deeper now so hopefully will not freeze entirely.

After the heavy rain that filled the water butt I photographed this Collared Dove immersing himself in the birdbath.I have seen Starlings and House Sparrows bathe before.He splashed about like mad for five minutes.I think it drives the parasites off the feathers.He flew up to next doors pergola to primp his feathers afterwards.

The Rose Gertrude Jekyll is almost in flower.She will be the first Rose of the year to bloom.The others are in varying states of budding or just with leaves.The local House Sparrows have been on aphid patrol for me.I got a spiral support for this rose so she could climb skywards and not fall down all over the place.The Gertrude Jekyll is named after a famous lady gardener and has highly scented pink Roses.

The pond has also attracted some Newts.They are like prehistoric dragons swimming around the pond rising to the surface to gulp down some air.This one was feeding around the small Water Lily that I planted a few weeks ago.There is also a large newt with a prominent blue stripe on her tail.With their fish like tails they are like a link between fish and amphibians.

The last photo shows the darker Aquilegias flowering in the sunken border.They are very striking to look at with their burgundy petals and spurs.The centre of the flower is reminiscent of a church window i think.

The garden is growing in beauty and depth over time.It is a pleasure to walk around and just enjoy the blooms and the wildlife.Dodging between rain showers there is always something to look at.

Garden Catchup

I have finally finished my night shifts.After resting yesterday I spent the day reacquainting myself with the garden. This photo shows the Lupins, the Aliums, and the Ceanothus together growing cheek by jowl. The colours all complement each other, cool shades of blue,purple, and white. The Ceanothus is also called California Lilac and should hopefully bring the Bees in for miles with its honey scented Blue flowers.

The Aquilegias have flowered now.These are the Dragonfly mixed Variety.The pink petals and spurs/white centre contrast to the black ferny leaves of the Sambuca growing next to the clump. The other Aquilegias are more darker coloured. The two Aquilegia Fruit and Nut I bought have not done anything this year.The two varietys will probably hybradise and self seed for years to come.

The warm dry weather has encouraged a boom in the amount of Aphids. The Lupins pictured above had a huge amount of Aphids eating the sweet nectar from the flower spikes. The local House Sparrows descended into the sunken border and proceeded to eat the Aphids. They look liked fine diners eating Corn On The Cob as they moved up and down the Lupins flower spikes.My second lot of Lupins have also got a lot of aphids. More fine dining for the House Sparrows.

I love the natural selection of House Sparrows controlling Aphid populations.I feed the Sparrows seed and Fatball and they keep my plants in good condition.

This is a close up of the Lilac tree flowers. The flowers are starting to wind down now. The variegated tree leaves are covering the branches though. I bought a painting on Canvas of Lilac Tree Flowers and Leaves.I hope year on year that the flowers increase in number.

Flowering away in the Wildflower area around the pond are these two beautiful flowers. The first is white and reminds me of Chicory. The buds behind the flower are like enlarged balloons. I think these were seeds in the Wildflower mix I sowed last year.I do not know what its called.

This pink flower is also blooming in the Wildflower patch today.It has nine petals around a central stamen. The leaves are small and triangular.I hope to be able to find these two flowers in my Wildflower book.

I watered the pots along the garden path. All my Roses, Hostas,Lilys (Casa Blanca,Tiger, Oriental Stargazer, Madonna Lily, and Asiatic),Alpine Strawberries, and the Potatoes in Grow bags.

It actually rained yesterday for the first time in weeks. It was a passing shower so its been dry and sunny today. The pond is actually an inch lower now than when I filled it originally.I can see the water marks dipping down.

I hope that I can plant all my Greenhouse plants at the allotment soon.Only a few days ago I forgot to close the greenhouse door and there was a frost.My Broccoli Garnet look slightly sickly today.They might have to be substituted by Hampsons bought plants.

The sun is shining now as I write this.I will cook some Chocolate Chip Muffins later.I topped up the birds food and changed their water. The garden is always full of Garden Birds.They like my organic and wildlife friendly garden.

Its been nice to catch up with the garden and to show more than one photo.

Water Crowfoot

The oxygenating plant in the pond has developed these clover like leaves, and these pretty White flowers.My wildflower book called these Common Water Crowfoot.I love the small flower buds that look like floating white tennis balls.

I am on night shifts so I only see the garden in the morning.I have watered the greenhouse and had a cursory glance now.I will be back photographing and gardening on Thursday.

I topped up the birds food and water.I can sleep better knowing I have made sure nothing is dying in my abcence from lack of watering.

It looks cloudy but I do not know if it will rain.The pond needs the rain to top it up.

Tree Peony

The Chinese Tree Peony has bloomed today.We only bought it a few weeks ago from Hampsons.The first Tree Peony we had at Fishponds did not grow and died in the cold winter here.

It is such a delicate pink blush flower with the yellow inside the cup.Like a Golden Treasure chest just opened.

I was busy in the garden yesterday planting the Herbs, making the Strawberries a net cage, and watering everything.

I forgot how hot the sun can be and got a mild case of sun stroke!

I have been sweating lots and still feel very warm to touch.The moral of the story is sunblock if you are spending a long time in the sun.

Its the first of May which means pretty soon I will be able to plant at the allotment.All the plants are growing away beautifully.

I have to work four nights now before I can get back to the garden.