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Shrubs for birds' nests/cover

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  • LucidLucid Posts: 387

    We had another new visitor to the garden yesterday, although I couldn't get to the camera in time. I thought it was the robin at first, but realised it was a chaffinich. Again, I've not seen a chaffinch in our area at all. Considering the garden at the moment pretty much just consists of the pond, lawn and some very small and spaced out plants, I'm amazed that they're encouraged to it. I did wonder if it was the cotoneaster berries they're after, but there were only a few berries on there to start with and I'm not sure if any have been eaten yet, I can't wait to see what happens in the Spring and Summer when the plants really take off!

    Lucid image

  • image  Now the weather is getting colder the birds are coming back to the gardens - we had several goldfinches on the sunflower heart feeder yesterday image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • I don't know R. laurifolium Jo, so I've googled - sounds lovely - yet another possible planting for the area freed up by felling the tree yesterday.  I've got R. odoratum over in the Wilderness behind the pond, but as yet it's only a toddler. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    R. laurifolium is more of a ground cover than an upright shrub unless it has help. I've seen it trained up a wall but needs fixing. Lovely in winter, I must make sure mine hasn't disappeared due to neglect during the summer. I only planted it in the spring. Meant to cut it back but forgotimage

    Saw some when we went to Anglesey Abbey Doveimage

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Ah, thanks Nut - got it!  It might be useful in the shrubby bit of the new area - hedgehog cover and all that image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    With you on the pink Ribes Jo  image

    The blackies have been stripping the cotoneasters here Lucid.  Chaffinches are seed eaters - blackbirds (and thrushes)  are the usual suspects.  image

    Unfortunately, the best one is on the outside of my boundary so I don't see them chomping.  I can see how much they've eaten when I go out to the car though!  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    goldfinches like our privet hedge

    and wrens like ivy that has reached the bushy stage.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Wait a minute Jo, I'd forgotten all about it til mentioned hereimage

    I'll brave the wind and go seeimage

     

    It's cold and windy out there but bright and sunny.

    The ribes hasn't put on much new growth, I'm sure it would have appreciated a bucket of water occasionally through the summer, but full of healthy looking flower budsimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Buddleia alternifolia, lovely scentimage

    Growth follows a good prune Jo. It was rather leggy and tied to a cane when I bought it. I thought a good prune might start multiple stems growing.

    Maybe after the next flowering



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I'd leave it til after flowering. Have you got flower buds?



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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