Spring in our town cottage garden – getting outside
Out in the garden to start gardening for the first time this year. So wonderful to be down close to the soil and to see what’s coming up.
What did I find? Last autumn I threw fallen leaves onto the borders thinking worms would carry them down. They didn’t all go so spent today scooping them up again.
Last year’s leaves still there
I think 2017 will be the year I ease up on battling with creatures that do damage and decide to live with possible losses rather than cover things with unsightly chicken wire.
Mice in my compost bin – I like them and I’m sure they’re doing a great job of mixing things around.
Squirrels starting to eat emerging bulb shoots in pots again. Very disappointing so all I can do is move the pots to the front garden where squirrels are less likely to be. Last year they ate the tulip shoots when in flower which was really sad. Moth balls were recommended but the squirrels ignored them.
Tulips will hopefully survive
Decided to pile up prunings and general debris at the back of the borders at the base of the fences and hedges and leave them there to create wildlife habitats rather than putting everything into my compost bins. That saves me a lot of work. Just chuck cut stuff to the back of the border.
Lovely pile of fern leaves
Snowdrops
Many snowdrops have come up but nowhere near the number I had planted in the green over the last few years. Where do they go? I would guess they get eaten. Chelsea Physic Garden is the place to go in late January to see displays of rare snowdrops as well as carpets of them in the garden itself.
Bought these today from Chelsea Physic Garden
Rats – they are abundant at the back of our houses here in London and I used to get agitated about it. Since they’re everywhere I’ve decided to ignore them. Just decided to not be bothered about it.
Wildlife
Still waging constant war to stop squirrels eating ALL the bird food. Our feeders are all RSPB squirrel-proof and help to deter them but they still manage to eat some of the food. Putting oil on the pole stops them climbing up it but they find a way. Decided to not be bothered about that either.
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Bird feeders are part of a town cottage garden
Foxes leave poo here and there. We see them day and night, bold as brass.
A multitude of birds use the feeders on and off all day every day. Wonderful to watch.
And whatever else happens, Spring will come.
Daffodils in our town cottage garden
I’ve written more about spring bulbs here
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