Wherever you have turned this week the topic on everyone’s lips has been the white stuff. The predicted snow came at the beginning of the week but, in our area, not anything like as much as was predicted. It didn’t seem enough to cause the ensuing chaos but was enough to keep us indoors. The nearest we got to any gardening was to read the gardening magazine that was popped through the letterbox. The editor must have been kicking himself for bad timing as one main article was on climate change. It included the subheadings Longer hotter summers and Warmer shorter winters. I do wonder how many gardeners have taken advice and restyled their gardens to take into account the predicted global warming and what effects our recent weather has had on their cactus and succulent displays.
Our newly arrived garden magazine also came complete with a free packet of three types of tomato seeds, Moneymaker, Roma and Gardeners’ Delight. We had already bought seven packets of tomato seeds and one of those is a mixture of varieties. We also collected seed from some tomatoes grown last year. Don’t you just love when magazines do that and mess up your planning! Blight permitting we could have quite a supply of tomatoes this year.
Although we didn’t have much of a snowfall the freezing temperatures have meant the snow that fell has lingered. Newly emerged and budding plants have been covered but fortunately seem to be gradually reviving as the snow disappears, although growth has slowed down considerably. One plant that isn’t enjoying the conditions is the tree fern which is definitely looking worse for wear and sporting browned fronds. Each year I worry whether it has made it through winter but this year the odds may be against it!
The conditions warranted an increase in the amount of food put out for the garden birds and the need to keep thawing the ice in the birdbaths. Birds were lining up to take a bath in the icy water – it’s just incredible that the little creatures don’t just freeze to death especially when wearing sodden feathers in below 0 temperatures. In theory they should turn into ice balls.
The numbers of visitors to feeding areas have increased since the low numbers recorded during BirdWatch weekend – now there’s a surprise! We have placed food under the small covered area right by our patio window and many birds are coming very close to the window for food. The female blackbirds seem a lot more confident to do this than the males though. The females happily tuck in turning their backs on us but the males are very wary. The robins and collared doves are also very happy to come right up to the window too and the blue/great tits do a quick smash and grab. Blackbirds are everywhere and becoming very territorial – chasing one another round the garden. We have also had a song thrush foraging under one of our evergreen shrubs in a snow free area. This was a very welcome sight as we haven’t seen a thrush in the garden for a long time. Time to make another batch of fat cakes! Click here for instruction on how to make fat cakes.
One feathered visitor which was not welcome was the heron. It paid us a return visit after helping itself to breakfast from our pond last month. This time it left with an empty beak and stomach. We had covered the pond with black netting after its last raid. I do realise that it is just as in need of food as the other birds but draw the line when it comes to sacrificing our fish.
Folklore has it that the birds choose their mates on Valentine’s day! It seems that is the reason that birds feature on many Valentine’s cards. A bit of a tall story but our nesting boxes are cleared out and ready for action just in case! I wonder if the blue and great tits will leave the sparrow terraces to the sparrows this year. All advice points out that three nesting holes close together in the terrace and the holes being too large and close together would deter any self respecting member of the tit family from taking up residence. Obviously our birds don’t read the same articles as I do!
