Tuesday 3 September 2019

Tuesday 3rd September 2019

A warm and breezy day, temperature this afternoon reaching 20c.
I was in town meeting friends most of the day so not much to report.
The trail cameras confirmed the two fox cubs and two hedgehogs were in the garden most of the night. One of the cubs appeared with a chicken sized two legged animal. Just could not work out what the animal was. 
A local cat decided to bed down at the entrance to the fox den last night. The fox was not impressed and did a good job in letting the cat know who's den it was!

Monday 2 September 2019

Monday 2nd September 2019

A very warm day with temperature today reaching 24c this afternoon.
Another day of Autumn clearing. Today pruned the fig tree which had doubled in size this Summer with the largest crop this tree has ever produced.
Trimmed the ivy hedge by hand so as not to cut any seed heads off. I disturbed a few moths but am sure they will soon return.

The hedgehogs and fox cubs were out last night as expected. The hedgehog call Bubbles that had made a home in the shed from bubble wrap took leaves in last night. Getting ready for the colder evenings.

Sunday 1st September 2019

A very warm start to Autumn with today's temperature reaching 24c this afternoon.
Chuffed or what, photographed a holly blue butterfly on the white flowers of the viburnum shrub. 
So many moths about at the moment, Ivy hedge is full of them. The wildflower plants area is swarming with all manner of insects, this was a challenge creating this area so very pleased with the end result. 
Only been two hedgehogs out each night for a while now and just the two fox cubs. Not seen the vixen for over a month now. 

Made a start on the Autumn clearing today. The Passion flower that had grown into the silver birch tree at the bottom end of the garden now cut back and training along the fence trellis work which it was meant to do in the first place.
Some really bad news to report, devastating actually. The silver birch tree in the lawn has died. I planted this from a seedling 43 years ago so is a great loss. Have been lucky however as the life of such a tree is only 20-30 years.

Sunday 1 September 2019

July / August 2019


July and August weather varied from mild, warm, very warm and hot. There were a few random wet days but not enough to make any difference to the parched ground so watering most nights was required.

Garden Wildlife was varied with the fox family and hedgehogs out every evening, fox cubs now the size of the adults. Although the hedgehogs appeared to mate in the Spring there had been no sign of young.
The highlight during the last two nights were the arrival of five sycamore caterpillars and the southern hawker dragonflies emerging from the pond.

Hopefully I will be back blogging every night from now.

Wednesday 26 June 2019

Wednesday 26th June 2019

Warm and sunny, temperature reached 25c this afternoon.
Not at home much today due to the Asbestos Support Group get together.
           A comma butterfly flew into the conservatory this morning landing on a window fully open. Obtained a cracking photograph. Been out again tonight hedgehog spotting, the one in the kennel kept me waiting an hour before it emerged, bit dark for a photograph but worth keeping.

Tuesday 25th June 2019

Warm and partly sunny, temperature this afternoon reached 25c.
Lawns cut today and a little general tidying of the garden.
           Swifts appeared again, same time as yesterday. Did one swoop of the house and gone. So much about garden wildlife this year has been a cause to worry but I guess with weather patterns shot away again this year we should expect some degree abnormality?
Some good news however are the young great spotted woodpeckers and young jays. Blackbirds are clearly nesting again this season as the male is busy taking food to a nest somewhere in the front garden.
Two cubs, the vixen and at least two hedgehogs still out each night. No sign of young hogs yet.

Monday 24 June 2019

Monday 24th June 2019

Very warm day bug again very little sun. Temperature this afternoon reached 28c.
Another day doing nothing much.
Four swifts swooped over the house this morning but disappeared as quickly as they arrived. Very strange behaviour this year and disappointing of course.
Just back indoors after watching a hedgehog for half hour in amongst the leaves.
Photographed a magpie moth and a meadow brown butterfly this afternoon.