I Saw A Mouse!

Where? Yes, I did. But not on the stair as the little song goes, no in the garden. 

He or she was taking full advantage of our bird feeder set in a secluded spot with nice ground cover in the form of bark mulch. 

This feeder was providing  a steady stream of food via the birds who messy eaters as they are dropped so much on the ground. 

He or she was a very cute looking mouse and was joined by another one as they got used to us. 

However, while I am OK with them in the garden I do not want mice in the house so we moved the feeders much further down the garden and are more careful about spilled birdseed grain now. 

Our neighbours are avid bird feeders as well so we warned them to just be careful with feeders very close to the house. 

The mouse is -we think- a wood mouse and they rarely like to come into homes but it is certainly not unheard of so it's just being careful. They are usually nocturnal mainly so it was surprising to see them out in the daytime. He must have been very hungry.

They are very common in gardens and most gardens have far more mice than we realise. Of course, where you see one mouse there are usually soon many more! 

Wood mice usually have about two or four litters per year and can have their offspring from March to Autumn. In winter they go into a semi-hibernation or torpor state to save energy. They have many predators from cats to owls and foxes

Its natural habitat is hedgerows and woodland but gardens provide for all its needs. They can climb up to bird feeders but will happily take seed spilled. They can and do hoard food they find. 

Do watch this short video it is very funny. I learned this song as a young child.  It's a song about a mouse living in a windmill! You may even be singing along with the chorus before long  :) 


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Perfect Waterlilies

I wanted to shares some real beauty with you today. 

Not in my own garden today but visiting another, which I find important to do for inspiration and just the joy of appreciation. 

Yesterday we visited a beautiful garden near us. It has a large lake which at this time of year, just on the edge of summer going into autumn,  is filled with gorgeous water lilies.

 There are many types and colours and my all-time favourite is this one with its pristine white petals and a vibrant yellow centre. 

We don't have a lake or even a pond in our garden so when I like to see water-loving plants we come to this garden and it is wonderful.

The lake was so serene, just a gentle breeze on a warm day gently rippling the surface of the water with the hazy sunlight dancing sparkling across the waves. It was so relaxing and so lovely. An afternoon off to appreciate the beauty of a waterlily on the lake.... precious moments indeed. 

Do you like water lilies?

Garden Full Of Birdsong!

I was lucky enough to be working from home recently and looking out of the window on a coffee break I saw a beautiful sight! 

I had heard the birds singing as I worked but when I looked our garden was filled with birds of such a variety of types and sizes, they were so lovely. 

Read more about my happy experience here. It is always worth looking out of the window!  

A Garden Filled With Birds


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We Certainly Have Weather!

There is an old anonymous saying that goes something like this:-

"Wether the weather be fine,
Or wether the weather be not
Whether the weather be cold,
Or wether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather , whatever the weather,
Weather we like it or not !"

Yes it's a bit of a tongue twister but so has our weather recently. So far this winter we have had no or little snow and it really hasn't been that cold. 

However in the north we had a tidal surge that flooded the city near us and we have had gales and it has rained, rained and more rain of late. We are also having massive coastal erosion and losing especially on the east coast much of the land and many houses were built on the coastline. It is devastating for people and some of the wildlife.

The last month has seen the south of England hit hard by gales, waves of over sixty-foot high crashing into coastal areas and massive devastating flooding. 

The flooding has been in some areas like Somerset for over a month now and many people's homes, farms, businesses and lives are ruined. 

Wildlife has its losers in this situation as well especially those who rely on freshwater rivers for survival and it is not good for anyone with standing polluted floodwater. The recovery, when it eventually stops raining and the rivers stop breaking their banks, will be long. 

So while I am not wishing to wish our lives away I do say now roll on Spring or at least some dry weather so the areas so badly affected in the UK can take stock and recover and rebuild. My thoughts to all affected. 

Glorious Winter Sky

I wanted to share this stunning winter sky with you. 

This amazing beauty appeared over the tops of houses near me one evening, what a glorious sight! 

It certainly is worth venturing outside now and again these cold evenings, wrap up warm and keep safe of course but just to see just what is going on out there. 

It is better than anything on TV ! 

Signs Of Life In The Depths Of Winter.

Even though we are in early January, walking around our garden today I can see signs of life. Winter is well and truly here and bare branches are everywhere on the trees but look closely, look for longer and you can see the promise...

  

This year so far we have not had snow just fierce winds and storms and rain and tidal surges but no snow so its easier to see the tiny signs. 

The elephant's ears are starting to bloom one is out in full pink bloom a welcome sight on a cold dull day. 

There are a few shoots peeping up from the bulbs I planted in the autumn. The Camillia is laden quite heavy with tightly closed buds I sense waiting for warmer weather and is doing very well despite being somewhat battered by the destructive winds we have had.

 Our large Magnolia from a distance looks in the depths of winter but upon closer inspection, I can see the buds all there just waiting to bide their time before they burst forth in gorgeous creamy white blossom.

Oh yes, it's cold and rainy and windy and still gets dark early but the hours of daylight are lengthening each day and each day we creep slowly closer to spring. There is much to celebrate in winter but now and again I need to know that nature is preparing for the better weather ahead and today I saw that. 

Stay warm, keep healthy and now and again take a look for signs of new life in your garden.   

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wishing you all A Lovely Christmas time and a very happy and healthy New Year !

Wow it is windy and rainy and cold today! In all the hectic ness of getting ready for Christmas it is important to spare a thought for the wildlife for whom this time of year  can be rough.  We try to keep our bird feeders topped up and the water in the Birdbath and other water trays clean and free of debris. 

If you have log piles  stacked in your garden in a quiet spot they will already be great winter habitats for  small insects and other creatures.

We have just had the winter solstice and the shortest day and although  we are truly in winter now the hours of daylight are very slowly starting to lengthen. A long way off spring yet and yes colder weather to come but we start the upturn in daylight hours now :) 
   
There is not much for us to do in the garden anymore so now is the time I love to settle in with a nice mug of tea or mulled wine,  some gardening books and magazines and dream away about the plants and plans for the garden year ahead:)

If you are celebrating it Enjoy a wonderful Christmas :)