It's been wonderfully wet of late, typical April weather. Thankfully though, we've had some days much more conducive to gardening as well, and on Friday I was able to add a new batch of native wildflower plugs to the garden. These included bugle and lady's smock around the pond edge, red campion alongside the willow dome, giant bellflower and meadowsweet in the newly made bog garden and also a few old-man's-beard plants. If like us, you're on a tight budget, then it's a case of doing things bit by bit as the seasons pass, but then, I quite like it that way. I love the way the garden slowly matures and only being able to add to it bit by bit kind of feels part of the excitment.
The pond is one year old today! What joy it's already brought us, and this weekend was no exception for hidden amongst the overhanging grasses we found two, newly emerged damselflies still drying their wings. One of their dried shells lay pinned to a stalk nearby.
The pond is one year old today! What joy it's already brought us, and this weekend was no exception for hidden amongst the overhanging grasses we found two, newly emerged damselflies still drying their wings. One of their dried shells lay pinned to a stalk nearby.
As well as a small frog which popped up to say hello, and the odd pond scater, we also caught a brief glimpse of a tadpole! That's the first one we've seen since last reported and I was beginning to think they'd all been a figment of our imagination. I take it they're all down there somewhere. Whilst clearing out some of the algae which is beginning to take hold around the margins of the pond Suesie disturbed lots of dragonfly and damselfly larvae. We made sure every one found it's way back!
Elsewhere in the garden the forget-me-nots and primroses are still a gorgeous sight and the old apple tree at the end is clad in lovely pink blossom. The lawn is covered in carpets of daisies and dandelions
whilst close to the back door lilac fills the air with it's delicious scent. Insects abound, including a variety of spiders. Being phobic of the poor things I even have trouble looking them up in my ID books but I think the one below right is a type called Pisaura mirabilis.
whilst close to the back door lilac fills the air with it's delicious scent. Insects abound, including a variety of spiders. Being phobic of the poor things I even have trouble looking them up in my ID books but I think the one below right is a type called Pisaura mirabilis.