Cyn's Nature Notes: Pretty Garden Acers

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Pretty Garden Acers

The acers are coming into leaf, I sometimes wonder if they should have a place in a garden that is primarily for wildlife - should I not have planted hawthorn or something else that would be much more wildlife friendly? Yet when I see them in all their stunningly fine, summer and autumn leaves, I know why they are here. They are just so very beautiful,

One is a deep, burgundy red, with finely divided leaves, it has grown slowly and strangely, and although it is fifteen years old, is but two feet tall, however and here's the strange part it is almost four feet across. The second one is a breathtaking bright orange colour, it was bought for fifty pence (along with two others at the same price, which did not survive), it was in a very poor state when I bought it, less than a foot tall and leafless, but in the time I have had it (about ten years) it has reached five feet tall and stands proudly at the back of the border, glowing brightly even on cloudy days.

The third came from a dear friend who was going to get rid of it, and I must admit it did look dead and I didn't give it much hope. However here we are, some time later and it is stunningly beautiful, mostly cream with pink touches and I'm so glad to have both the acer and her friendship. The fourth acer is slowest to break bud and is only just showing red leaf tips, it is the largest of my acers with wonderful summer colouring and amazing autumn shades, it means a lot to me as it was a present on our golden wedding anniversary from my brother.

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About this Blog

When we moved to our present home in December 1987, I was very ill and bedridden. My garden was a life-saver, although it was very different then. The first thing I did was to put up bird-feeders, and long hours were spent lying indoors in a recliner. This was when I discovered many things. Do you know the underside of every blue tit’s tail is differently marked? Gradually, over the years, the garden changed. We put in shrubs and plants that would not only enhance the garden, but would also be good for wildlife. The first rabbit we saw was so joyful for us. The deer eat the flowers, prune the apple trees, eat the marrow, and are wonderful to watch. Foxes have been a major part of our wildlife. We have fed them each night for more than 20 years. They are such a delight, especially in late summer and early autumn when there are youngsters. They behave like puppies and are great fun to watch.

I love all wildlife: the mason bees that nest in the brickwork of the bungalow, the hornets that last year made their home in the roof above our bedroom, the bees currently nesting in the roof above the bathroom. On a hot evening, if you stand quietly in the bathroom, you can hear this amazing sound: it is very rhythmic and reminds me of the waves at the seaside. It is made by the beating of the bees’ wings as they fan their nest to keep the temperature at the right level -- how many people have heard that sound? I feel so privileged.

Obviously, I feed the birds. When I open the window in the morning I call “Come on Bobby and Blackie”, and one followed swiftly by the other they fly immediately to the bird table. Each morning, on rising, I make my way to the kitchen and find the squirrels already sitting on the window ledge waiting to be fed. Winter brings the moorhens and spring time the mallards. Our pond is a poor effort from a human point of view, but wild creatures see it differently. On summer days, the grass snakes spend long hours in the pond: eating the fish, froglets, toadlings, newts, and any other living creature they can swallow. Although I hate to see the pond emptied this way, I do enjoy the snakes and feel they are an important part of the balance of nature in the garden. Watching a dragonfly nymph climbing out of the pond, up a plant stalk, and then over the next few hours gradually transforming into a beautiful dragonfly -- these are contented hours well spent.

It has been my pleasure to write and publish a nature column each month. I am always delighted to hear how much pleasure this brings to my readers. I have often been asked if I have written a book, so I am making more of my writings and photography available through this web site and blog.