Friday 30 May 2008

Wet and wild.

The wet and windy weather has lasted several days...........we have had a months rainfall in that time. The following photos are the wild areas of the garden....the trees and shrubs have shot up and everything is looking very green and lush.
The copse....I planted the trees when we first came here.
The staghorn sumach was 6 inches high when I planted it.
Oak, hazel and honeysuckle, wonderful for wildlife.
Woodland walk....none of this was here when we moved in.
Wildlife loves dark places....here they can hide away from predators.

Pines and Laurel are evergreen so the garden has winter interest.

I love this area, maple, mahonia beech and elder.....again good for wildlife.
Ivy is wonderful for nesting birds, mine grows over arches.
The copse is full of ferns, foxgloves, sedges and woodland sage. It improves every year, and is a wonderful habitat for many creatures.


18 comments:

Rose said...

Beautiful scenes, Cheryl. It's amazing to me that you have planted all of this. Your garden and copse must give you a lot of joy, and you should feel so proud to know that you have created this sanctuary.

Anonymous said...

Hi Cheryl, I just love your garden and it inspires me. I have a lot of "wild" area in my garden too. So much to take care of but yet, we can let nature take her course too, can't we.

I recently found a nest of baby spiders in My Serenity Garden"

Cheryl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cheryl said...

Hi Rose....It has been hard work and it is an ongoing project. There have been many disappointments but you soon move on and start again. Genereally I am pleased but a garden is never finished, I always have something else I want to do.

Cheryl said...

Nature having a bit of control is good Becky.....

beckie said...

Cheryl, a sanctuary indeed! Not only for all your wildlife but for you too. It must give you immense satisfaction to see what you have accomplished. I love all your trees. Especially the stag horn sumac. A cousin has a small one she has babied for a couple of years and even with deer eating the top out, it is starting to show such great promise.

Wendy said...

Did I see a Japanese maple hiding in the background? It is so beautiful! My mom and dad had one in their garden and I stole it, when their house was sold (after they both passed away). Planted it in my front garden - well it died. I was so disappointed, but then Hubby and I bought another one and it's doing very well.

You do have a lush green sanctuary and it looks so inviting. Even the wildlife have their own special places.

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
I enjoyed seeing so much lush growth! I would feel very safe in your garden. I would lay down with the ferns. I love the wild areas too in my little garden.
I adore your header today. I just want to pat your bees!
No Mason bees still in my bee box. I might need to order some!
I do have lots of honey bees but few Bumbles.
Hope you dry out a wee bit.
Have a delightful weekend.
Sherry

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie.....it is a sanctuary, very peaceful, not to everyone's tastebut I love it.
The staghorn sumach are beautiful trees especially in Autumn when they turn red and rusts.

Cheryl said...

Hi Wendy, Japanese maples are stunning, the autumn colour is beautiful. I have five here, I have got to stop buying them, they are too expensive.
Have a good weekend.

Cheryl said...

Hi Sherry....the mason bees have not done well here this year. The weather I think may have killed a few, and I have also seen wasps around the unit. They may have gone elsewhere to lay their grubs. I only have tne tubes filled to date. That is way down on last year.

I have not seen any honeybees yet....but loads of bumbles, carder, etc etc. The garden is buzzing so that is good.

I often sit in the copse and just watch the birds, bees and butterflies. I don't take my camera, its too distracting.

The grass is so long....I can see I will have trouble cutting it....

Have fun Sherry....

Cheryl said...

Hi Sherry.....that should read ten units filled....

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
Perhaps there are cycles for the Mason Bees. I am leaving my box up just in case and will order bees for next spring.
Thank you for letting me know about your bees. I see lots of wild honey bees.
Have a great end of May...we now will bring in June.
Namaste,
Sherry

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I believe that Fairies also like those dark womb like areas. With the foxgloves there you should be on the lookout for them.

Cheryl said...

Hi Lisa...My little granddaughter and I spend many an hour looking for fairies.....dragonflies in flight can look very much like them. At 2, the world of make believe is very strong.....her Nanna at the age of 57 still lives in the same paradise!!

Libbys Blog said...

I always love visiting your garden, Maybe I should just have a cottage garden, I'm sure it would be more restful!!!

LadyLuz said...

A beautiful sanctuary, Cheryl. I love the combination of textures and shades with the maple, mahonia, beech and elderflower.

It's a real joy to pop over to yours and see things which are quintessentially English.

Cheryl said...

Thank you Ladyluz....I love looking at your garden to, the contrasts are always so interesting.