Spent some time scooping blanket weed from our little pond yesterday. We hadn't seen the newts for a while, so I was keeping an eye out and was pleased to see several tiny but unmistakable baby newts. Then I thought a bird was above me, but the sound of wings beating was a massive green dragonfly. It flew around and around and kept landing on me! Later there was a red damselfly swooping about too. I noticed several spent dragonfly exoskeletons on the Pontederia stalks, and lots more waterlily flower buds emerging , as well as an unexpected but very welcome new flower stalk on the Geum rivale 'Leonard's Variety' next to the pond.
The bond is about 1m x 2m, not really deep enough and was only made last year. Amazing.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
They just turned up. Damselflies arrived as soon as the weather warmed up last year (we made the pond during the Beast from the East in March, and didn't plant it until later). I don't think any of my near neighbours have ponds. I was sad not to have frogs arrive this year... until we spotted the newts . The big dragonfly seems to be about again today - might see if I can get a photo.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
Flight to Italy got cancelled yesterday due to the BA strike. I looked at flying a couple of days earlier but seats were in the region of £400 - £600 each. Instead I phoned BA and, astonishingly, got through at once. They were brilliant giving me all the options and then booked me those £620 places at no extra charge. They also confirmed the seats.
I also re-booked the Heathrow hotel. For ages I had been saying to my wife we could change from a flexible booking to a non-refundable inflexible one which would be £40 cheaper. The professor was right into refusing to change; had we done so we would have lost £330.
Two hours of stress yesterday evening but then happy all is sorted.
A lovely surprise this week: a visit from my niece who I haven't seen since she was 8, she's 47! She came complete with husband and 12-year old son who I'd never met. They were on holiday in our neck of the woods so phoned and asked if they could visit - we were so pleased.
@LG_ - what fabulous visitors to your pond. I keep hoping I might get a damsel or dragonfly, but no such luck. I have insect envy now I'll just have to content myself with seeing them on my travels.
My 'cheerfulness reason' today is that there are now three juvenile goldies visiting the feeders. A veritable charming charm of them, along with maw and paw goldie, and all the other little birds we get here. Lovely jubbly Good result for you @Picidae - hope you have a lovely time
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The local cat lady has sold her house and is moving away. Her 5 cats have been a total blight on the area for years and I'm so pleased she's taking them elsewhere
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The bond is about 1m x 2m, not really deep enough and was only made last year. Amazing.
I also re-booked the Heathrow hotel. For ages I had been saying to my wife we could change from a flexible booking to a non-refundable inflexible one which would be £40 cheaper. The professor was right into refusing to change; had we done so we would have lost £330.
Two hours of stress yesterday evening but then happy all is sorted.
I have insect envy now
I'll just have to content myself with seeing them on my travels.
My 'cheerfulness reason' today is that there are now three juvenile goldies visiting the feeders. A veritable charming charm of them, along with maw and paw goldie, and all the other little birds we get here. Lovely jubbly
Good result for you @Picidae - hope you have a lovely time
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...