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More Suprises
My first apples. This is an impressive sight as I have never knowingly planted apple trees in this garden and now have two. They are half hidden in a thick and deep hedgerow that I created in an empty field when I moved here, so I guess they came with a batch of hedgerow trees…
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A Feeding Frenzy
The silage was cut a few days ago and afterwards I had a very enjoyable evening watching the local foxes clearing the field. They obviously know the sound of the machines, as this individual was scavenging within minutes of their arrival. I am hoping to see some of the newly-born foxes at the autumn harvest.…
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Catching Up?
I have finally managed to rejuvenate the corner decimated by the winter rains and storm Kathleen. Following the advice of one of the best gardeners I have ever known, I gave the Cherry ‘Kojo no Mai’ a severe pruning and a good feed. It is now showing some very healthy leaves so I am more…
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New Life
The garden is a much quieter place since my winter visitors left. My permanent residents make themselves known, but can’t compete with large flocks of chattering sparrows and greenfinches. I miss the chatter of all the birds, but the resident robins are making up for the loss. They still follow me about the garden despite…
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Caught in the Act
I have finally admitted defeat in my efforts to have Hosta plants in pots by my back door. These had hardly started to produce leaves this year when the snail attacks started. To my mind this is earlier than usual and if other years are an indication I will soon have no leaves left. I…
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An Extended Winter
Storm Kathleen has passed, leaving me with yet another puzzle to work out in the garden. This area at the top of the drive is bordered by Elaeagnus hedges to protect the garden proper. They are thick and dense and impossible to penetrate. Kathleen has left many of the bushes almost bare of leaves and…
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Repair or Replace
This a picture of a corner of the garden that I created shortly after I moved here twelve years ago. I was particularly pleased with the mix of formal planting and wildflowers which were allowed to seed themselves at will. Sadly, the last two winters have taken their toll and the corner is a sad…
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The Deluge
The remnants of a hydrangea flower still providing interest in what should be Spring. Maybe we will just jump to Summer. Two hooded crows on one of the only sunny days this year. Actually, I mean sunny morning, as it was pouring with rain by mid-afternoon. Like all the other birds they are usually waiting…
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Fourteen Years On
I moved to this garden over twelve years ago. I say garden, but it was mainly fields surrounded by barbed wire. There was a lovely stand of trees by the house but Storm Darwin put an end to about eight of them and a further five had to be removed for safety’s sake. I rarely…
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Mud, Glorious Mud
I try very hard not to envy other people, but it is a battle at the moment especially when someone mentions spending a day in the garden in sunshine. For the last few months I have experienced torrential rain, everyday rain, blustery winds sea fog and sea mists. Sunshine has been hard to find and…