Friday 29 March 2013

Good Friday 29th March 2013





Still very cold but at least today we had blue sky and lots of sun.
Enjoyed a Rooster Breakfast with the family at Lockley Farm first thing. Children loved the Farm Crazy Golf and Play area again.
While in Arborfield we paid a visit to Henry Street to purchase two more Hellebores. Have created a Hellebore area in the Bandstand Border.
              In twenty years of purchasing my basket plug plants by mail order I have never had problems until today. One box from my order arrived today pretty bashed with 75% of plants broken. Replacement box due I think.
Pictures 1 - 4 - Lockley Farm.
       "         5 - Broken Busy Lizzie plug plants.

Thursday 28 March 2013

Thursday 28th March 2013




Not at all like Spring, still very cold. Showing 3 at Wisley today.
An enjoyable day spent at RHS Wisley, despite the cold all aspects of Wisley looked stunning. Something beautiful about Trees lacking leaves, Birds getting a little frisky, Spring Bulbs showing signs of life and the Fruit Trees all neat and tidy. Thoroughly enjoyed today.
All pictures taken at Wisley.

Wednesday 27th March 2013


Cold but temp' did reach 5 mid afternoon so warm I suppose after the last few freezing days.
Leekes surveyor called again checking further details of the impending Conservatory. Will be a masterpiece when complete, sadly lost a season with my nest box camera system.
                   Good to meet up with Ollie at lunchtime over Fish & Chips and catching up with Laver Gossip.
                   The Storm Moon was pretty impressive, pictures taken at 11pm.

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Tuesday 26th March 2013


Another cold day, a little warmer with a mid afternoon temp' of 3.4.
Boring day having to meet Mum's Bank Manager as I am keeping the account open so home is still covered by Homeserve Insurance. Also chased Solicitor as no movement in last three weeks, think I chose a bad solicitor.
                   Was cheered up by seeing the Chiffchaff again and the Sparrowhawk. 
Pictures are of the Sparrowhawk.

Monday 25 March 2013

Monday 25th March 2013

Another bitterly cold day with temp' no higher than freezing.
Day spent tidying the Workshop, think I had better open an ebay account?
Picture of snowdrift at 479.

Sunday 24 March 2013

Sunday 24th March 2013


Another cold day, never went above freezing. 
Day spent in the sheds again but but by 15.30 I had finished the exercise, so both Greenhouses and both Sheds are now usable again.
Picture 1 - Icicles on side of the shed.
      "    2 - Waiting for the snow to clear.

Saturday 23rd March 2013





Bitterly cold day with heavy snowfall. Reportedly the coldest March since 1963. I remember the period well. I was helping clear Wokingham Town Centre Pavements of snow. All companies with lorries were ordered by WBC to help with this exercise.
                 Despite the weather I spent day making a start on clearing out the sheds.
                 Enjoyed an evening at The Foresters in Church Crookham to celebrate Lulu's Birthday.
Pictures are of Spring Flowers in the Snow.

Friday 22 March 2013

Friday 22nd March 2013




Cold and windy day, very wet evening. At least we missed the Snow that covers the rest of the Country.
Day spent sorting out the Shed, loads of stuff to throw, hate throwing things away hence an untidy shed!
Sparrowhawk appeared again at lunch time, well ruffled in the windy conditions.
Pictures are of the Sparrowhawk.

Thursday 21 March 2013

Thursday 21st March 2013

Cold day, showers by evening.
Morning spent at Henry Street purchasing a further 4 Strawberry Plants and appropriate compost.
During afternoon I planted the 4 Strawberry Plants and re-planted a further 3 Plants. 

Lorna now suffering with this cold bug so not happy chappies at mo'.

Wednesday 20th March 2013

Another cold day with 5 minutes of Sun during the afternoon. By all accounts weather not warming up until mid April.
Today spent time creating a Staged Strawberry area in the Greenhouse. Henry Street beckons? 

Tuesday 19TH March 2013

A cold day, more like Winter Weather.
Fixed up a couple of Swallow / House Martin Nest Homes under the Eaves at the side of the House. All told now I have 17 assorted Nesting Boxes in the Garden, three with cameras.
Made a start on clearing a space in the shed to store the Bulk Bags of Bird Food.
Picture is showing the two Swallow / Housemartin Nest Homes.

Monday 18 March 2013

Monday 18th March 2013




Not as wet but pretty miserable, sun did appear for ten minutes during the afternoon.
Morning spent at the audiology dept at the RBH. Problem I had been encountering was due to a broken receiver. Simples!
Afternoon I planted out the Sweet Peas and planted a Rhubarb.
Sparrowhawk made numerous attempts again at catching a bird but to no avail. Fun to watch however.
Why, when you are not well you lose interest even on things you are interested in. Does that make sense, no what I mean anyway. 
Pictures are of the Sparrowhawk in the Silver Birch Tree & Fence.

Sunday 17th March 2013





Another very wet day.
Reading Half Marathon, good to Jamie, Barry, Michelle and Andria doing well. Barry and Michelle calling in when finished for drying out! 
Picture 1 - Andria and Marcos.
     "     2 - Jamie.
     "     3 - Part of the 16000 crowd.
     "     4 - Barry & Michelle.
     "     5 - Part of the 16000 crowd.

Saturday 16th March 2013




A very wet day.
Morning spent at Henry Street Rose Nursery choosing twelve assorted Rose Bushes.
Despite the appalling weather conditions and not feeling well I still planted the said Roses during the afternoon.
Picture 1 - Choosing.
     "     2 - Loading.
     "     3 - Ready to plant.
     "     4 - Planted.

Friday 15 March 2013

Friday 15th March 2013







Red Nose Day!
Have a stinking cold, end of.
Bit chilly with showers all through the day.
Leekes Surveyor spent another day with me discussing the finer details for the impending new windows and conservetary.
Magpie's I feel are going to be a problem this Spring, has now taken to eating from the Peanut Feeder. Pretty unusual.
Sparrowhawk was in and out of the garden like a yo yo today. Spending a lot of time at the Bird Feeder. Think time to set the Trail Camera at this position.
Picture 1 - Red Nose.
     "     2 - Magpie at the Peanut Feeder.
     "     3 - Great Spotted Woodpecker at the Fat Block.
     "     4 - Must make the hole bigger!
Rest of the picts' are of the Sparrowhawk.

Thursday 14th March 2013

On the chilly side but dry and plenty of Sun.
Morning at Henry Street to purchase Raspberry Canes and to order compost for hanging baskets. 
Collected another four bags of Horse Manure which will be used for the Fruit Bushes inside the Fruit Cage and the Wildflower Border.
Planted said Raspberry Canes and spread the Manure during the afternoon.

By evening not feeling so well, may have overdone the physical work?

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Wednesday 13th March 2013



A cold, sunny, dry day. Rain due again on Friday, can't wait.
Relaxing morning before a stint at a bit of house keeping at Fobney Nature Reserve.
Six bags of wine bottles, beer cans and dog poo bags were collected during the afternoon. Why do so called nature lovers have to dump rubbish?
On the clear up a Shelduck was spotted and three Black Swans, not seen at Fobney before.
Picture 1 - Black Swans at Fobney.
     "     2 - Shelduck at Fobney.
     "     3 - House Keeping at Fobney - Dave Booth pictured with part of the collected rubbish.

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Tuesday 12th March 2013






A bitterly cold day with the odd snow shower. First time this season the Pond has completely frozen over.
Day spent preparing for a Rose Bed. Lorna loves Roses so have under pressure agreed to these black spot, green/black fly, vicious Plants!
All plants removed and re-planted elsewhere, a 50mm covering of garden made compost then a layer of Horse Manure.
Henry Street have a Rose Pruning demo' next week with discounts anything Rosey so will take advantage of the discount and purchase Roses then.
                 Sparrow Hawk appeared again, bit later today at 4pm. Again, nothing taken despite many attempts.
Picture 1 - Collecting Manure for Rose Bed.
     "     2 - Rose Bed almost ready.
     "     3 - Frozen Pond.
Remaining picts' are of the Male Sparrow Hawk.