Two jays, several blue tits, a wren, some robins, great tits, a greater spotted woodpecker, a yellow wagtail and the ubiquitous squirrels (three this morning) are just some recent visitors to our garden. But, that's all going to change again this year when we once again hold another Open Gardens of Sandgate event on Sunday 1 July. We hope, of course, that there will be lots of human visitors to come then and share the vistas, enjoy the plants and raise lots of money for a local charity yet to be decided.
In the meantime there's much to be getting on with. The unusually mild winter months have brought several plants into flower at strange times. Borage for one, a soft blue flowered herb with hairy leaves runs rampant over the bank in early spring but is in full flower now in places, as is bergenia (not a favourite, but it fills a gap). We still have roses blooming too with one plant giving its fifth flowering since June last year. Signs too of spring bulbs which we would expect now of course. A few daffodils have already come into flower but the 'February Golds' are only just poking their leaves through. As indeed are the naturalised white narcissus that form an glorious stripe through the grass from late spring.
A couple of hyacinths have been fooled into thinking they should be in flower and have only managed to just breast the soil before flowering to a height of only a couple of centimetres and one has died off already. So a strange year for plants and a busy one ahead for us with some storm damage to trees and the greenhouses to attend to, as well as paths and steps to repair. Moles are the new pest and a sonic mole deterrer to keep up with our neighbour (because he's got one, not that he's a mole)is top of the shopping list.
Before all that energetic work begins I'm taking an hour off tomorrow, or Sunday, to join in the RSPB's Great Garden Birdwatch. A comfy armchair, a note book and cup of something warm to keep me alert whilst watching our feeding station for visitors of the feathered variety. Fingers crossed that this sunshine continues and the birds are hungry!
Before all that energetic work begins I'm taking an hour off tomorrow, or Sunday, to join in the RSPB's Great Garden Birdwatch. A comfy armchair, a note book and cup of something warm to keep me alert whilst watching our feeding station for visitors of the feathered variety. Fingers crossed that this sunshine continues and the birds are hungry!
