Sunday safari.......well not really, it's too cold.......

My tree is dressed.......I left it late this year. Christmas decorations hold memories for me.

Lots of memories........magical moments......

My Auntie gave me the angels many years ago. They are very beautiful, I never tire of them........

My garden is full of decorations. Mother Nature has been busy........she works her magic far better than I.
There are many feathers in the snow.......

All the teasels have bonnets.......

A mini Christmas tree perhaps?

The robin is my friend. I am feeding him suet sticks. He will not go hungry.

Happy safari Sunday........

Walking in beauty......

Every picture tells a story.....so they say.......

The birds knew the snow would come.....now they can feast on berries........

The garden is hushed.......not a sound.......the birds are not singing......

I think of Riley and Poppi making snowmen.......I hope their Mummy has some carrots. Poppi says all snowmen have carrot noses.......
Snow is not common in my part of the world.

I shall walk Nella during the day.....walking in the snow is fun.......

What a difference.......

The bees and butterflies are sleeping.......

The garden is frosted.

I put a coat over my dressing gown and pop on my gloves. I am glad my neighbours are sleeping.......

The air is crisp......my breath is warm......

Silence greets me.

I watch the birds gather.......the night has been harsh. Water has turned to ice. I leave suet balls, seeds and nuts. The birds are hungry.

The cold chills my bones and yet........ There is something quite magical about a frosted garden. I breathe in the cold air, and savour the moment.

Cold days mean log fires.....old houses are hard to heat. Nella loves the warmth of the fire and dreams of chasing rats. I dream of Spring and what is to come.

Winter months.....time to dream.......

Soggy safari Sunday.......

Icy rain.....a north wind.....and low temperatures .......I am not fond of this particular cocktail.

A cape daisy sings out......her colours taking me back to warmer days.

A Calendula crosses its petals...........hoping for a little warmth.......those days are fading fast.

My much loved garden, all that's new in it.....

and all that is old in it, is barely marking time. I am preparing to steer it forward into another year.......

I see changes in Nella........she is in hunting mode....

Her eyes are sharp and her tail erect. She is restless and unsettled......

I thought so. Ratty you are a fool to enter this garden.......your days are numbered my friend....perhaps it is time to make a swift exit........the grass is not greener on this side of the fence.

Happy safari Sunday....have a good week........

A week in the garden......

Heavy rainfall over the last week has left the garden looking drab......

Dogwoods add a little colour, but everything just seems a little messy at the moment.

I have to try and resist the urge to go out and get dirty......

As most of you will know I am not a 'fair weather' gardener. I am someone who needs to be outside.

Poppi is an outdoor girl and does not need any encouragement to help me with new projects.....

Riley, on the other hand, would rather be with Grandpop in the garage, helping where he can......

This has been an ongoing project for Poppi and I. The photograph does not really show the size of this border. I roughly paced it out today ....16 metres x 3 metres. We have removed a lot of turf....which is now neatly stacked in the copse and once it turns to loam I shall distribute it around the garden.

Whilst I have many Skimmia's in the garden I never tire of them and they do exceptionally well here. Their buds tease me at the moment....they will not open until early spring.

I also have a soft spot for Viburnum's.....several of these have been added.....
More ferns....I am becoming a little too obsessed with them.......but I do like evergreens.
I cannot wait to see this border next year........what started as just edging the border has turned into a new and exciting project.......

And look, just look, the first hellebore bloom. Don't you just love it. The detail is so exquisite.......

Even soggy blooms look beautiful on a dull day.

My garden drips with berries. The birds are not eating them. Are they telling me something. Is there a cold winter ahead?

Ivy blooms......they sparkle.......

The garden is full of birds........I never realised how pretty the back of a male chaffinch is.

Seagulls fly over frequently.......
Rooks leave me spellbound.....I just love it when they fly over the house, large flocks.......off to their roost.....calling as they go. I love this photograph......

Why would you want to do this on a cold, damp and gloomy day? Each to their own......

Sightings in the garden:

Sparrowhawk chasing a Blue Tit (I hope it was not Blue Boy)

Weasel in the copse hunting.......

But for me the most breathtaking.......I got up at 6.45 am one day last week. I had not slept very well. I went into the kitchen made a coffee. I sat quietly in the conservatory.....no lighting......the garden was still in shadow. Looking out I saw the wings of a huge bird above the trees.......silently it flew across the garden......and landed by the side of the pond. A grey heron ......I could not move.....she had seen me.....we had contact for a few precious moments and she flew away. Beautiful.....this, for me, is what my garden is about.......the wildlife.

Have a good week.......

Sunday safari

I don't like to leave Nella at home when I go walking. Today I was hoping to photograph the Redwing and Fieldfare that have flown into the area from Northern Europe. Each year they come, I have never been able to capture them on camera.

As I walk along the lane I am surprised to see so many rooks nests......with the gales last week, it is amazing they have survived.

Many branches lie on the verge and in the fields.........some in mid-air, catch my eye......

The ditches are full. Only a month ago they were empty.....bone dry. How swiftly things change.
I arrive at the lane where the birds gather. How different it looks from a month ago. The wind is cold and bites at my face....my eyes water. The wind is always so aggressive along this stretch of road. I can see the birds in the tops of the oaks.
Voices carry on the wind. The birds fly across the fields and the moment is lost. How frustrating....another day perhaps.

In the distance I can see the farmer rounding up his sheep. I like Phil the farmer. His family has worked the land here for four generations.

I turn the corner, the old spaniel glances at me. We know each other well. His body is too weary to chase away a friend.

A rook flies overhead as I go through the gate into the garden.
Sparrows sit amongst the Dogwoods.....

and Gt Tits enjoy the fat balls in the feeder.

I check plants that have been re-located.

They are all looking healthy.

Hmmm something has been munching the Calendula petals.
The next bloom reveals all.....a tiny caterpillar. I think of Spring and what is to come. Happy safari Sunday.......