WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2017

@Perki
I don't know about fed oop ..ya must be fair pooped ....after all, your hard gardening graft today Bless ya ....Is this you

 

@Perki are you sure the hedgehog was dead, a very cold, hypothermic hog can look dead and feel cold to the touch. Was it a baby hedgehog? Was the other that you covered over a large hedgehog? A hibernating hedgehog can also look dead and feel cold to the touch, but often the spines will move if touched.

 

Yesterday all day none stop with 60 mph winds. Back and side gardens waterlogged with large puddles of standing water. Drained away a little bit this am and supposed to be dry all day today, so might get something done later on.

 

Lucius, I can sympathise. Bucketloads of rain here, and thought we had fixed a bit of flooding in one part of the back garden, only to discover that no, we haven't . Meant to be drier here today, but everything is so saturated that there's not a lot to be done. Will clear fallen crab apples off the slabbing onto the grass, ready for our annual fieldfare when he makes his appearance.

 

@Irmemac how fabulous to be able to see in you're very own garden a feasting fieldfare - isnt life full of wonderous happenings every day if we each look close enough

 

Bee, you are absolutely right. It is an annual pleasure to look out and see the very timid field fare tucking in to fallen apples. That's why we keep them. It can spend hours at a time in the garden, but try as a I might I haven't taken a single decent photo of him!

I often wonder if he is the same one every year, but we did have a change about four years ago when a sparrowhawk caught and killed the previous one, and then had the cheek to eat it in the back garden.

 

Irmemac Have you thought of videoing the visit on your phone maybe

Awww sorry about the one being caught in the garden especially in front of you - nature gives and sadly takes, in equal part - In the worlds of The Lion King "It's the rhythm of life"

 

It is indeed how nature works, and on the plus side I did get a longer than normal opportunity to admire a beautiful sparrowhawk.... and also saw what the inside of a fieldfare looks like!

For the brilliant idea of recording one of the visits on my phone... never occurred to me! If it works well enough I will post it on here.... and provide the popcorn!

 

This morning I finally got around to constructing my compost bin.



It took about 10 minutes. If I knew it was going to be that easy I would have done it months ago.

I don't know how weather proof it is. It is supposed to be treated but it doesn't look that way. I don't really want to paint it but I will if I have to.

Another day when I get the inclination I will make a door in the front.

All that said and done, I don't actually have anywhere in the garden to stand it. I'll have to try to clear a space.



G.

 

think the leaves are dry enough for a few passes with the mower and good burn pile for them. also want to get some Christmas lights up outside. depends on the energy level for me and how much gas I have left for the mower. don't want to leave house to get more gas.

 

Nice job Gary
Doesn't have to be "weatherproof" but a secure lid would be good; ideally a blanket of something under the lid too to hold the heat in as the compost breaks down.
I would also consider some ventilation on the side panels.....maybe drill a few holes? Good ventilation is important.
My own main heap is a self build too.....mine has removable slats in the front with spacers between the lowest ones so no door as such. With slats it is easy to empty the bin
I think our own home made garden compost is the very best soil conditioner; no brought in pests, diseases, weeds etc..so your plants will love you for this
A pot or two standing in front of your bin would help distract the eye; even a pot of a spreading prostrate plant on the top!
I would not paint it; if you think it has been treated then leave well alone.

 

Im sure if you would have peeked around the corner -you would 'ave defo seen this little chap sighing with relief with his thumbs up saying , to the rest of the feathered gang poor fieldy's is a gonna
but panic over im OK

me luverrly .....now all i need to add is save me a front row seat heated preferably as im sure the weather will be parky up with you in the highlands and can i please have a LARGE buttery popcorn
.......OH and WHY not!!!while your at it can i also have a LARGE
Just to be sociable of course

 

I've had enthusiasm today. It may have been because the sun was shining. It could also be because my wife was at home. I find it easier to get on in the garden when I don't have to keep coming into the house. At the same time my wife finds it easier to get on in the house when I am in the garden.

This afternoon I put all my pots on feet. I bought a packet of 40. I have one left.

I then saw how many leaves I could salvage from my own garden. I did better than I thought I would.



There were a good few stacked up against the fence. Also the carpet of leaves around the base of the tree was denser than it first appeared.

I'm quite happy for that as a day's work. There are still plenty of leaves left on that tree. I'll try to contain them the best I can.



G.

 

I couldn't tell until I picked it up, the smell give it away, it was lying in it own faeces and I sure it had some maggots on . I reckon it may have been poisoned, the person who lives there obsessed with putting a tub of slug pellets down at each time. Not a baby about half the size of an adult.

The other hogi was fine in a totally different garden all snuggled up. adult size.