Our house martins returned yesterday, we'd seen a couple around but it was yesterday afternoon that three were flying up to the nests in the apex. They're back again today.
I saw swifts on Saturday too, not in the village but on the way to Malton. And the first lambs were in the village yesterday too, a couple of Reg's were on the green outside the shop and in Brereton's car park, they're not there today so they've obviously moved on. Spring is springing along as best it can.
The full moon over the weekend was a supermoon, amazing views but none of them photographed - don't know why we didn't, probably because it wasn't rising in a convenient place any way it was very remiss of us, should have at least tried.
It's being reported today that the weather over the weekend was on average colder than at Christmas! Today I think I can believe it, seventh of May and we're still lighting the stove in the mornings, complete madness. We had some very hard frosts over the weekend, a few of gunnera's leaves have been scorched but too badly and I've lost a couple of strawberry plants but it's been so cold everything is still in the greenhouse. However, I did get the sweet peas out into the fresh air this morning for the first time. Only a few years ago I was listening to GQT about Chelsea preparations whilst planting up the tubs and sweltering in the sunshine, that's not likely to be happening this year.
Showing posts with label gunnera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gunnera. Show all posts
07 May 2012
16 November 2010
GWP, gunnera and skates
Last week the top end of the village kindly sent us a greater spotted woodpecker which tried to destroy the nut feeder but finally managed to extract some peanuts and flew away, unfortunately it's not been back, so maybe the nuts were deemed inferior.
Over the weekend we wrapped up gunnera for the winter, lots of large crowns now safely swaddled in straw and tucked in with a fleece duvet, sleep well and we'll see you in the spring.
And just in time too - Last night the temperatures plummeted and all the rain, drizzle and heavy dew froze solid, this morning we really could have done with ice skates instead of walking boots.
Over the weekend we wrapped up gunnera for the winter, lots of large crowns now safely swaddled in straw and tucked in with a fleece duvet, sleep well and we'll see you in the spring.
And just in time too - Last night the temperatures plummeted and all the rain, drizzle and heavy dew froze solid, this morning we really could have done with ice skates instead of walking boots.
12 May 2010
Snow - in May
It's freezing! My poor tulips look as if they're getting a good dressing down and are busy inspecting their shoe laces. Even a fleece layer wasn't enough to protect the outdoor tomatoes or the gunnera - the toms are a gonna but it was only the leaves on the gunnera which will survive and put out some more leaves from the (so far) undamaged crowns.
On Monday Mrs Bossy Blackbird did as was bid and brought her new babies for us to see, but they weren't quite ready and one of them got a rather too close inspection from three curious dogs who just about terrified the life out of it but did, in fact, leave it undamaged, not even pinked (well done Hebs). I carefully moved it from the middle of the dog yard into the shrubbery but it was all in vain, later on the birds giving a real yammering and there was a sparrowhawk plucking the baby blackbird spreading feathers all over the lawn. As if one wasn't enough she (yes it was a female hawk) came back later for another go but I think went away empty taloned. In the evening we were watching TV and a large shape kept swooping past the window in the evening gloom - then the picture went fuzzy, a quick glance out of the window showed a tawny owl perching on top of the satellite dish!
On Monday Mrs Bossy Blackbird did as was bid and brought her new babies for us to see, but they weren't quite ready and one of them got a rather too close inspection from three curious dogs who just about terrified the life out of it but did, in fact, leave it undamaged, not even pinked (well done Hebs). I carefully moved it from the middle of the dog yard into the shrubbery but it was all in vain, later on the birds giving a real yammering and there was a sparrowhawk plucking the baby blackbird spreading feathers all over the lawn. As if one wasn't enough she (yes it was a female hawk) came back later for another go but I think went away empty taloned. In the evening we were watching TV and a large shape kept swooping past the window in the evening gloom - then the picture went fuzzy, a quick glance out of the window showed a tawny owl perching on top of the satellite dish!
26 April 2010
Busy week, lots of firsts
This past week has had lovely warm spring sunshine which has brought out the first blackthorn flowers and the larches are greening up nicely.
We have also seen the first house martin and the first swift (Sat 24/4).
However, although the days have been lovely and warm we've had some fierce overnight frosts, the protective fleece on gunnera and the seedlings was like cardboard on Monday morning (19/4).
We have also seen the first house martin and the first swift (Sat 24/4).
However, although the days have been lovely and warm we've had some fierce overnight frosts, the protective fleece on gunnera and the seedlings was like cardboard on Monday morning (19/4).
12 April 2010
Sunshine!
And warm days, I unwrapped gunnera this weekend, still getting a fleecing duvet over night but already growing away strongly.
Saw a small tortoiseshell on Saturday and also heard my first cuckoo in the morning. Saw my first swallow on Thursday evening (8/4).
Saw a small tortoiseshell on Saturday and also heard my first cuckoo in the morning. Saw my first swallow on Thursday evening (8/4).
30 November 2009
Winter declared!
That's it, it's officially winter here. Stove is lit and today we have wrapped the gunnera for the winter.
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