I have spent a great afternoon in the garden finally doing some serious gardening. The sun has shone for the most part and it felt so good to feel its warmth on my back.
As ever I didn’t do what I intended to do, so easily distracted but then there is so much that needs doing it doesn’t really matter. I have worked my way through the slope border, weeding and picking up sticks and bits of broken stems. For some reason that is beyond me we get a ridiculous amount of sticks in this garden, presumably blowing down from the willow and prunus trees when it is windy but given the amount that comes down the trees really should be bald by now. I discovered some hefty Foxglove seedlings growing at the front of the border and moved them up the slope along with some Hollyhocks. I then I planted out a nice group of Phlomis Russelina and a couple of Thalictrum seedlings I had lurking on the patio. Going along the rest of the border there are new shoots appearing which is great as hopefully I haven’t lost anything in this border over winter. The trouble is the shoots haven’t broken cover yet so the border does look incredibly bare.
I then moved on to the ‘Pond Border’ and gave that a quick tidy up and fork over with the hand fork. The surface had really capped with all the rain and cold we have had and in some places where the new shoots were pushing through the ground had lifted and cracked completely out of proportion to the size of the shoot. It is amazing how much strength and power they have. A few Alliums Purple Sensation which I had put in pots last year as I couldn’t remember where they were destined for were planted out in this border as well.
So much more to do but I have the whole of tomorrow and hopefully the weather forecast will be right and it will be another lovely day.
I thought I would share the photo above with you as it amused us greatly. We seem to have acquired a Pheasant in the garden this week probably due to the amount of bird food I put out. However, we did think it was going a little far when he jumped up onto the bird feeder. He spent quite a bit of the afternoon spying on me from behind a Bamboo which was entertaining. Sorry about the quality of the photo but the sun was shining so much and I had to be quick before I scared him off!!
Love the pheasant! And your daffodil picture is gorgeous too. It was a fantastic day today – just the right sort of weather for a bit of gentle stick-picking-up. I get lots of sticks in my garden too – very mysterious.
I think you tweeted me asking if I wanted some bergenia? The answer is: yes, please, that’s extremely kind of you!
Helen, I don’t know which I enjoyed more — the daffodil (which aren’t in bloom yet here) or the pheasant on the feeder. Both charming in their own distinctive ways.
Now that is a photo I would never have guessed was real. This I am sure does not happen that often. Pheasants are so wary and to feed at a feeder is really something. Love your image. I have to get a few friends to see this too.
What a clever and brave Pheasant! He must’ve been hungry, to have chanced hopping up for a feed. We had a Wood Pigeon that would hang upside down from the bird feeder, as it was the only way he could get to steal some seed. I took pity on him in the end and moved the fat balls so that he could get to those if he wanted – they were cheaper to replace than the wild bird food! lol
Victoria – you might get the whole Bergenia plant as it isnt really me!!
GardenWalkGardenTalk – this pheasant has been hanging around for 4 days at least and has been on the feeder each day despite bird food on the ground
Jenny – I dont think the pheasant was on the feeder as he was so hungry, he has been eating for at least 4 days in our garden and there is plenty of bird food on the ground – just weird!
Glad you had a good weekend Helen. Fancy having a pheasant in your garden – lucky you had your camera at hand.
You are so right-it was lovely to feel the sun really warm this weekend and lets hope it stays that way. I love the pheasant and the fact that he’s on your feeder! Obviously he knows he’s safe in your garden-he may end up a permanent resident! xxx
I hope he doesnt become a permanent fixture as they can be quite destructive. My parents used to have them in their old garden and they were always sitting on plants etc
A pheasant at the bird feeder is a new one. That’s hilarious.
Love the pheasant pic!
My mum’s got loads of pheasants in her garden, mainly because she feeds them. They’re hilarious to watch. Loveable, but really dopey at the same time. They’ll try and land in her trees, which is really funny. They’re heavy old birds to be trying to sit on branches!
I have built a couple of bird tables for my garden and it is a pleasure to see birds visiting them. I have yet to have a visit from a pheasant though. Love the picture>>>