Cyn's Nature Notes: The Spring Garden

Thursday, 14 March 2013

The Spring Garden

Another bright and beautiful morning, when I rose from my bed this morning there was a very pretty covering of snow resting on everything, now the sun is strongly shining and where the warmth hits the snow, the green shows through. I thought I would walk around the garden but it is far too cold and uncomfortable to do so, as there is a strong wind blowing.

I hurried indoors and standing by the kitchen window looking out on the back lawn was fascinated to notice how quickly the snow was melting, as it melted, tiny water droplets were left hanging from the tips of the blades of grass. These droplets were wonderful as they moved in the wind and with the action of the sun on them each one became a sparkling natural diamond, which shone with every colour of the rainbow sharply and strongly defined within, and magically changing from one hue to the next repeatedly.

I spent several moments watching these sparkling treasures, and reflected on the fact that I have no diamonds, but then I don't have the worry of losing them either and these natural ones suit me best anyway. How lucky we are to live in this beautiful natural world where there are so many treasures to be found and enjoyed every day without ever having to worry about them.

Yesterday I did manage to walk round the garden, while the sun was briefly shining. I noticed small groups of white violets blooming under one of the magnolias and was pleased to see a new great tit nest in one of the boxes. The end garden is looking so pretty, daffodils are now blooming and the crocus put in last autumn have been amazing, each bulb has given between five and seven flowers and a couple have even managed eight. What great value! Incidentally I learned an interesting fact that crocus are a member of the iris family.

The miniature iris bulbs planted at the same time as the crocus, have also bloomed and although they only sport one flower per bulb, the flowers are very long lasting with exquisite markings, so more than earn their place in the spring garden.

There are hundreds of helleborus and snowdrops all in full flower, that have been there for many years. The helleborus come in many shades of both pink and white and have seeded prolifically over the years. Under the magnolia soulangeana and skirting the periphery of the tree is another type of helleborus, these have smaller flower heads which are green and edged with red. Over the years they also have spread but only around the outer edge of the tree and now form quite a pretty edging to that part of the garden.

The snowdrops have formed large tightly packed groups, which must be split and replanted this year or we may lose them to the dreaded red spider mite.

The primroses which in our garden are mostly primula vulgaris are amazing, they have flowered throughout the whole of last year and are now putting on a grand show.

Caught sight of this early Brimstone butterfly resting in the sun.

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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.