DARK NIGHTS CLOSING IN

This week has been quite cool at night and all but a few of our summer visitors are taking fight to warmer climes.

I saw the final group of swallows make their final swoops around the garden and surrounding fields, they even created such a noise that I went outside to investigate if an aerial predator was around.

I couldn’t see one so put it down to them saying goodbye until next year – I know that’s extremely unlikely.

The garden hasn’t seen much activity with most birds still feeding in the surrounding countryside, although a number of blue tits are visiting for a short period of time most days.

As it’s a quiet time of the year, I’ve dug the pond out and have been waiting for the rain to fill it naturally, rather than tip tap water in to it.

In the coming weeks I’ll get some weed and plants, and hope it’ll attract some insect and even amphibian life in the coming weeks and months.

I hope it will also act as another way of learning about wildlife for my girls, as they do take interest in the wildlife around the garden and often feed the birds with me.

This is the pond in its current state, and I’ll upload more in the next blog, hopefully.

The final bit of news is about the sunflowers, with a few now about ten feet tall. The birds should have a field day in autumn when the seeds are ready.

It’s surprised me the height of some of the flowers, because earlier this summer I didn’t think many would make it.

The tomatoes have produced a few examples of fruit, but I think the garden doesn’t quite have the right space and condition for growth now.

Autumn and winter will be time for clearing the garden up, including trimming back the expanding hedges and ivy growth.

However both are providing good cover for wildlife and may possibly be used next year for nesting – fingers crossed!