Thursday 31 March 2016

Thursday 31st March 2016

Brilliant day, back to decent weather again. Very mild and sunny most of the day.
Tricky day for me. Over the last few months three camera's have stopped working so thought today would fix. Would have been ok (ish) if I didn't have to climb trees.
After a process of elimination it was found to be the cables not working. All working now albeit a temporary solution as have to bury or protect the cables from suspect squirrels?
Ran out of time for anything else although did plant up three alpine plants I bought yesterday at Kew.


Wednesday 30th March 2016

A pretty good day, breezy, mild and sun most of the day (this was in London).
Day spent at Kew gardens. Have never been so was pretty excited about this visit. The glass houses were spectacular, both the modern and the old.
The main glasshouse which Kew is famous for is something else. An amazing Victorian masterpiece of a building. Not sure where to start with this, there is as much underground as there is above. Underground houses the boiler (plant) room, recycled water tanks, aquariums and an array of heating pipes.
Above you have two spiral staircases taking you to the top of the glass house where you then enter a balcony that surrounds the glasshouse. 
Oh, I nearly forgot. It is also full of plants, shrubs and trees. Reminded me very much of the Eden Project, trees and shrubs you sometimes forget supply you with basic food.
Loved the modern alpine house, close to my heart are alpines at the moment hence me creating my own alpine house.
All in all a good day out with the grounds also pretty amazing with trees surviving from the 1700s for instance, lakes, rock pools etc.
Service however was dreadful, could learn a lot from the RHS.



















Tuesday 29th March 2016

Not a particularly decent day, still very breezy although storm Katie has now passed us by. Leaving with it a fair amount of damage locally. 
For me it was just a downpipe that blew away along with the bend joint. Found them both but the conservatory is now built since the pipe was originally fixed, not making it an easy job to deal with. Managed, and now ok. An hour job took me all day.

Sorry folks, that is all for today.

Monday 28 March 2016

Easter Monday 28th March 2016

Well, storm Katie arrived for certain last night and stayed for most of the day. Experienced hail, thunder, heavy rain and strong wind. Can only improve, cant it?
              Another day indoors and another day working on the book project. Photographs more or less sorted now. Getting them on some sort of order will be a challenge. Have designed the book in decades with appropriate txt.
Not able to study garden wildlife visitors today but did see at lunchtime the female sparrowhawk. So close to the conservatory window making it very difficult to photograph.



Sunday 27 March 2016

Easter Sunday 27th March 2016

What a day, thunder, hail, stormy and very wet. Oh, and there was a little sun.
Not a day to be outside so worked on my book project for the day.
          Lulu and friend enjoyed the time visiting night clubs they frequented back in the early 90s arriving home 4am.
On coming to at 11.30am and presenting themselves at only 50% of there normal selves they were greeted to a flying display by the sparrowhawk. Neither of them had seen such a bird let alone a flying display, they soon forgot how hung over they were!

Saturday 26 March 2016

Easter Saturday 26th March 2016

Storm Katie would you believe? Wet most of the day and pretty windy, by mid afternoon however Katie moved in with strong winds and heavy rain.
A day to catch up on recent photographs and work on the book project.
          Lulu here for the day/night with a friend as clubbing tonight at one of her favourite clubs of the 90s.
Sadly that is all to report on today.

Friday 25 March 2016

Good Friday 25th March 2016

What a cracking day. Sun all day with temp' reaching 16c by 11am.
Can't believe the weather is going to change so dramatically tomorrow and rest of the holiday.
Good day in the garden preparing base for my next project, an igloo. Had to move 18 of my bonsai trees to make room. Now repositioned against neighbours fence.



Highlight of today had to be watching a red kite fly over and straight into the silver birch tree. Stayed there for nearly half an hour before flying off. Was hoping it would land on the lawn as there was an egg that foxy failed to eat last night. Red kites clearly do not like eggs.
While taking photographs of the kite a brimstone and small white butterflies were flying about the lawn in the bright afternoon sun.
             Easter cancelled for this year with illnesses in the family including wifelet. Such a disappointment as was looking forward to the egg hunt. Will keep until half term.
Picture 1 - Clearing for the igloo base.
  "   2 - 4 - Red Kite in the silver birch tree.

Thursday 24 March 2016

Thursday 24th March 2016

Not such a good day, morning not so bad but afternoon awful with worse to come.
During the fine spells I managed to sweep the decking areas clear of all the Autumn/Spring tree droppings, leaves and pine needles. Good to clear up before it became a soggy mess.
           Was one of those very quiet days for garden birds. Hardly saw a bird today. I did this morning fix up three cases of bird nesting material. Been collecting cleaner fluff.
Nothing else to report I'm afraid.

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Wednesday 23rd March 2016

A good day, not so much sun but reasonably mild and most importantly, dry.
Not much to report today as busy talking to three groups of children from Geoffrey Field School on Whitley History, my personal history of Whitley and my love of local and garden wildlife.
I was slightly nervous of doing this but felt privileged at being approached and am pleased I agreed.
The school should be congratulated on the way the children responded to this event with their questions and general interest shown. To be asking questions as they were proved to me just how genuinely interested they were.
My talks aside the children had baked scones, cakes and biscuits with fruit, jam and cream all cooked and prepared by themselves at school. The idea behind this was to test how good their cooking skills were. The children presented visitors with what they had cooked with a questionare to complete. We had to test for taste, presentation and texture with any advise on how the baking could be improved.
Brilliant idea. What a great day it has been.
Since arriving home I have already received a message saying other schools in the area would like to participate in such an event in the future. Better read up on more of Whitley History?

Tuesday 22 March 2016

Tuesday 22nd March 2016

After a hard overnight frost and misty morning the rest of the day was brilliant. Sun most of the day with temp' reaching 12c this afternoon.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Heron landing.
       "      3 - 8 -  Fobney.








Managed to arise ready to enjoy a dawn walk at Fobney. Frost, mist, water and a good sunrise, what more could you wish for. Plenty of activity, good to see teal and a feeding egret. Birders were about looking for the garganey that has arrived again this year.
             After a welcome breakfast it was a trip to B & Q for the guttering connectors required for the alpine house. Guttering fixed and finished by lunch time. Fixed in time for the rain forecast over Easter. Have read tonight that there is now a snow and ice yellow warning for this area over the weekend. Somehow do not think I will be opening up the bags of charcoal this weekend.
               Some excitement in the garden today, a heron appeared, landing on the tree overlooking the pond. A great photograph as it lands, had my camera focused as trying to photograph a pair of kites that appeared to be mating on the wing, or were they fighting. Missed the kites but got the heron.

Afternoon spent at the RBH. Consultant suggested I had become a family friend as I had been referred to this clinic so many times since year 2000. I appreciate the tests I endure are pretty intimate but family friend? 

Monday 21 March 2016

Monday 21st March 2016

Much better day with temp' reaching 11c this afternoon. Sunny most of the day.
Another day spent working on the alpine house. Sliding door works, what a relief. Water butt in place, a recycled wheelie bin. Will fix the guttering tomorrow as require a couple of joints. Visit to B & Q tomorrow morning.
Also created a brick path to the alpine house, bit more work on this to finish.
               Good to see the first butterfly of the season in the garden this morning, a small white. Actually landed on my finger on right hand. Not easy to photograph left handed, managed though.
Picture 1 - Water but in place and start made on brick path.
 "   2 & 3 - Small white butterfly.



Sunday 20th March 2016

A much cooler day, temp' only in single figures as very little sun. Dry at least, not looking good for the Easter holiday sadly. Most annoying as so much planned including a family Easter egg hunt.
Day spent working on the alpine house. Sliding gear to door fixed in place, will know tomorrow if worked. All cladding now fixed and cills glued in place.
With another box full of bottles I was able to add these to the bottle wall, still require a few hundred more bottles yet to finish this part of the alpine house project.
             The male sparrowhawk appeared again this morning but was soon chased away by the jay. Not sure what the problem is but whatever it is they do not get on!
Spent a couple of hours in the hide late this afternoon and was pleased once again to see the goldcrest but the biggest surprise was the blackcap. Not seen this bird at this part of the garden before.
Picture 1 - Goldcrest.
      "     2 - Sliding door now fixed to the alpine house.
      "     3 - Inside of the alpine house.
      "     4 - Bottled wall.
      "     5 - Inside of alpine house (from the outside).






Friday 18 March 2016

Saturday 19th March 2016

Can't believe I am writing this, yesterday the warmest day of the year and today one of the coldest days of the year. Sitting in front of an open fire tonight.
            Good day with John and Hillary. Was at least fifteen years ago when they last visited in daylight so were pretty amazed at the changes made. Plenty of news to catch up on, good to have days like this. To conclude the day we enjoyed a pint (Black Sheep) and a hog roast burger at the Old Bell. On a personal issue why are we now expected to eat from wooden planks in restaurants these days.
         Not much wildlife to report today as out most of the day but did note a pair of starlings messing about in the nest box.
The jay had another spat with spawk. Spawk won today, think this could be a regular occurrence now?



Friday 18th March 2016

Oh wow, what a stunning day. Very warm and sunny all day. Temp' reached 16c this afternoon.
Day spent in the garden working on the alpine house. Really looking good now. Two ends and a side + cills now fixed. Sliding door still an issue, am putting my metalwork skills to the test to produce a sliding mechanism. Found some metal chanel which I hope to improvise.
Hopefully will have this project pretty well finished over the weekend. The bottled wall will take some time to finish of course as can only work as fast as my neighbours empty wine or beer bottles.
          I clearly have another mouse family in the garden. The greenhouse mouse has settled in and has started making a nest from fleece I store in the greenhouse. With a vast supply of bird food at his disposal I think it will be here for the long haul?
The mice in the two wood stacks covered by cameras are still very active. One of the mice was actually building a nest this afternoon out of what looks like straw. The only straw I have used is in the hedgehog home and that is 30mtrs away from the mouse habitat.


Wednesday 16 March 2016

Thursday 17th March 2016

Wednesday 16th March 2016

Dull start to the day but by lunchtime had cheered up somewhat giving us a welcome sunny and warm afternoon.
Bit of a messy day, Morrisons weekly shop his morning and British Gas this afternoon. Had a smart meter installed for both the gas and electric. Will be ok but fitter unable to activate the monitor so has to return sometime.
         What time I had spare was spent on the alpine house. Sliding door removed and the R/H & L/H side of the door were clad in feather edge. Tomorrow must find a way of making the sliding door work. I like a challenge .

Tuesday 15 March 2016

Tuesday 15th March 2016

After such a glorious start to the day it was more than a little disappointing for the weather to change . Breezy, dull and rather chilly.
This morning gave the front garden the first tidy up of the season. Pruned the magnolia tree, cut the lawn, swept up leaves and replaced a potted fir tree that died last autumn.
In the clearing up I came across a caterpillar that is so rare it is not even registered in any reference book! Only joking of course, I have been set a tack of identifying but after going through two books I am now resting for tonight. Will have another attempt tomorrow. My good Pal Doug identified it as a lesser yellow underwing moth . Thanks Boyo.
This afternoon I clad a side of the alpine house. Next job will be how I clad the sliding glazed aluminium door. Not sure how to do this yet.
             The Jays, Woody and Tufty are now fighting over the monkey nuts. Jay winning at the moment with Tufty a close second. Have the trail camera set now to capture hopefully the skirmishes.



             





Monday 14th March 2016

Monday 14 March 2016

Sunday 13th March 2016





What a day, plenty of sun but just a little chilly at times in the breeze. Temp' still reached a high of 15c this afternoon.
Day spent in the garden working on the alpine house project. Today started cladding the outside with feather edge boarding. This will be fixed at the bottom half of the greenhouse to hide all the framework for the alpine plant benches. Looking good.
            Plenty of activity today with bees, spiders and ladybirds all coming out of hibernation. Just hope the cold weather forecast for Easter does not materialise.

Picture 1 - Ladybird on shed door.
      "     2 - Spider in greenhouse.
      "     3 - Starting to clad the alpine house.
      "     4 - One end finished of the alpine house.