APRIL SHOWERS

I’ve not seen much of the swallows this last week, I presume they’ve been getting used to their summer home again – checking out the state of their old nest(s) and trying to find food in between the heavy rain.

The last few days have seen plenty of precipitation falling from the sky and dampening the spirits of the wildlife trying to bring the next generation into this world.

I still can’t see properly in the house sparrows’ nest in the blue tit nest box, while all birds are shunning the other nest box with the camera.

The first grass cut of the year brought numerous birds back inspecting the garden for food, with the blackbirds and robins spending plenty of time pulling tasty morsels out of the ground.

After noticing a number of bees around the garden I kept a small patch free from the blades of the lawnmower, as they contained clusters of small yellow marigolds that the bees we’re spending time taking nectar from.

I’m still waiting for news on helping to rehome hedgehogs, but hope to hear in the near future.

One thing I’ve done once again is plant seeds, this year with plenty of help from my eldest daughter, who is nearly five.

She gets very excited every morning when we look in the propagators to see how many new seedlings have grown.

So far we’ve got tomatoes, sunflowers and broad beans ‘showing’ themselves. This time next week I hope they will be joined by runner beans and chillies.

Then the temporary greenhouse will go up and father and daughter will hopefully grow a summer’s supply of veg and flowers.

AUTUMN RAIN BUT SUMMER TEMPERATURES

Heavy rain is affecting all of the country, but I wonder what it is doing to the wildlife.

One thing it’s doing to my garden is attracting lots of slugs and snails, plus encouraging flowers and plants to keep producing displays to attract the declining number of insects.

The birds have not been frequenting the garden much, which I presume is down to the amount of natural food available out in the fields, hedgerows and woods around my house.

Only the house and tree sparrows have been seen regularly and even the blackbirds and robins are conspicuous by their absence.

I hope the wet weather doesn’t flood out too many earthworms as these have suffered enough in recent years and they are the aerators of our soils, making sure it doesn’t stagnate. Plus they are food for plenty of other animals.

In the next week or so I’m planning to finish the harvesting of the crops, apart from the parsnips. I’m still collecting ripening tomatoes and have carrots, potatoes and runner beans all ready to be picked.

Once all the harvesting is done I’ll be off to get some horse manure and then mix it in with all my borders and hopefully this will help generate even better plants and crops for next year.

SUMMER HOLDING AUTUMN AT BAY

The ‘Indian Summer’ continues and the insects and plants are making the most of the warm and sunny weather.

I’ve seen huge numbers of butterflies, bees and other insects benefiting from the plants and flowers that are producing more flowers in this weather.

Although the chills of autumn are now far away, it’s great to enjoy this weather and look at how the wildlife is doing so too.

One thing that has changed recently has been the garden birds spending less time in the garden because of the natural food in the surrounding countryside.

The weather has been helpful in the harvesting of my garden, with endless amounts of tomatoes, runner beans, carrots and potatoes.

I’ll have to wait for the parsnips, but the hard work of the planting season is now reaping a reward and most it very tasty.

It’s unusual to see me watering the garden in late September, but I have to because of the warmth and growing flora.

One day, probably soon, I’ll be watching the garden being flooded by heavy rain so for now I’ll enjoy the weather.

Perhaps next week I’ll be talking about rain rather than sun, although I’m sure the fauna and myself will be hoping not!