Wednesday 5th October 2016

Another warm and sunny day.
This morning taken up with the weekly shop, this afternoon it was a drive to Henry Street for another bag of mealworms and wallflower plants. Hedgehogs eating loads of mealworms of a night along with crunchy food. Bought three different colours of wallflowers this year as opposed to a mixed selection. A planting job for this weekend.
          Had a beauty of a moth this morning, not seen before so well chuffed. Bees busy on the ivy flowers in this afternoons sun and critters enjoying sex in the afternoon sun.
           Enjoyed a birthday meal with Lulu and Clive at the Chequers. Brilliant pressy of a frog habitat and a NQB pint mug, how cool is that?
Picture 1 - Garden in the Autumn afternoon sun.
      "     2 - Silver Birch at the bottom end of garden. I grew this one from seed.
      "     3 - Passion Flower hedge.
      "     4 - Still plenty of these beauties in the pond.
      "     5 - Plenty of nectar on these ivy flower heads.
      "     6 - Common Marbled Carpet Moth.
      "     7 - Caddis Fly mating.

Tuesday 4th October 2016

Very warm and sunny, good conditions for my work this week.
Today made a start on clearing the bottom end of the garden ready for the wildflower meadow and a new lawn.
Managed to cut some hefty over hanging branches from the holly, fig and fir trees. Plenty to shred now and recycle back to the borders. The thick branches will be cut into short lengths to add to the log pile.
           Hedgehogs still very active and eating lots, foxy appears at the moment to be friendly towards to hogs, may this continue as I do blame the foxes for the decline of hedgehogs in the garden.
Birds still busy eating the abundance of berries I still have on the trees and shrubs. One rowan tree now stripped but still plenty on the second tree. 
           Enjoyed a drink and a catch up with Gordon tonight at the Holiday Inn. 
Pictures 1 & 2 - Making a start on the clearing.
       "             3 - Stakes ready for the willow fence.
       "             4 - All trimmed, now ready for shredding.
       "             5 - Fig tree down, I grew from seed this one.

Monday 3rd October 2016

Very warm and sunny day.
Today was all about the observatory and roof blinds being fitted. Still not particularly happy about this. On the one hand I do like sky watching but on the other hand was unable to see the monitor screens due to excessive light. Hopefully a compromise can be attained?
             Cut the lawns and edges, think there will be a couple more cuts before the mower is locked away for the winter.
Also planted twenty five bee friendly tulip bulbs, never seen bee friendly tulips before so will be interested to see the results next Spring.

Sunday 2nd October 2016

Very warm and sunny all day, just superb.
Day spent in garden, sunflower heads now outside drying, stems now cut ready for next seasons bug box, another 25 bulbs planted and pond tidied from fallen leaves.
This afternoon I set myself a task of photographing as many bugs as I could find. A good result actually, ladybirds and nymphs, shield beetles, moths, dragonfly nymphs, spiders and waspy things.
More fungi appeared overnight, something magical about Autumn.

Saturday 1st October 2016

Warm but overcast day with showers this morning and late afternoon.
As wet this morning I started the annual Autumn garage clear out ready to have the car garaged over winter.
This afternoon with weather much improved I started the cutting down of the sunflowers. Will dry over winter before cutting to produce bug boxes. With so few sunflowers stems this year it will only be a small bug box.
             Plenty of fungi forming now, a good sign of Autumn. Other signs of Autumn are the insects looking now to hibernate, ladybirds particularly.
Definate signs now of a third hedgehog, one photographed at the bottom end of the garden as reported yesterday and overnight some hog poo appeared on the deck path.
Have images of the fox and spike sharing an egg, good to see they are friendly to each other.
Good to see the Jay returning today, not seen for some while. Fed well on the monkey nuts this morning. Tufty missed out today.
With the abundance of berries about at the moment has seen a marked decrease in birds on the feeders. A good sign actually, the planting of these berry fruiting shrubs over the years is now paying off.

Friday 30th September 2016

Very warm and sunny with a light shower earlier this evening.
Morning taken up with food shopping as a little low on food and milk a little solid after the holiday.
This afternoon mooched about the garden for a while, topped up the bird and hedgehog feeders and watered the pot plants. Clearly windy here during the week as most pots had fallen over.
Managed to look at nearly 3000 trail camera images, some cracking shots of three hedgehogs now. Will start posting photographs hopefully tomorrow.

Thursday 29th September 2016

Overcast in Jersey this morning, sunny in Southampton this afternoon.
Departed the hotel this morning ready for the flight home. 
Arrived home at 8pm after a delayed flight due to a medical emergency which required emergency vehicles on the runway so planes were unable to land or take off.
Other than that it was a superb holiday, loved Jersey for its history, beauty and laid back approach.
Can see why it is a retirement paradise Island.
Can't wait now to catch up on the garden wildlife as captured (hopefully) by the trail cameras.