We saw seven swifts near the house at dusk last night, but couldn't tell where they were nesting. I suspect it's very probably in the nearby farm buildings, there's an open barn there which would be suitable.
Lots of reasons to be cheerful. Yesterday I walked to a sandy beach and had my first paddle of the season. Blissful! Then I went to a car boot sale, where I bought two plants, some knitting wool and a book of knitting patterns. Then to a charity plant sale, where I bought five more plants and enjoyed coffee and almond tart in the sunshine. On the way home I visited a charity shop where I uncovered a hidden stash of knitting wool, and bought half of it for my mum to make blanket squares. She can't knit anything more complicated as she's 95 and almost blind. She only resumed knitting yesterday after a fall last week in which she injured her left hip and wrist and for two days was almost immobile. Now she is getting a little more mobile and independent every day. Today she went out of the house for the first time, only up the garden path and back, but I think it was a big psychological hurdle. This morning I found that the Dierama Angel's fishing rod seeds I'd given up on are germinating.
My sister, her son and I had a good but very hot day out yesterday. Went to the Bluebell Nursery Arbouretum near Ashby de la Zouch and then to a small local nursery she knows. Bought lots of perennials but don't know where on earth I'm going to put them. Son who's very into wildlife gardening has given me more native foxgloves.
Just looking in the Problem Solving section, and one thread entitled 'Politics' was followed immediately by 'Rhubarb Problem'. What a wonderful site this is.
We've lived in this house for nearly 13 years, but yesterday evening was the first time I'd seen a beautiful, fleeting phenomenon which must occur occasionally... late sun, slanting between 2 trees behind the neighbour's house, illuminating the flowers of the rose on the bank behind our house from below... it only lasted a minute or so, but was quite breathtaking.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I'm enjoying myself today playing live Jenga. I'm pruning a very large elderberry . I'm taking out the long -some over 6 foot- non-fruited branches. They chop really easily and shoot vertically to the ground. Then you pull them out. No bugs, no thorns, soft leaves. Very satisfying😊
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Both wisterias are having a second flush so we have perfume and bees galore again.
I'm pruning a very large elderberry . I'm taking out the long -some over 6 foot- non-fruited branches. They chop really easily and shoot vertically to the ground. Then you pull them out. No bugs, no thorns, soft leaves. Very satisfying😊