Art.......

You do not have to be an artist to paint or draw.......

just as you do not need to be a writer to write.

Within all of us is a deep sense of creativity,

a desire to express what we see......

and feel in ways other than words......
I think of gardening as an art form.......

a way to show my personality......

With each season the landscapes changes.....

and beautiful people add another dimension.......

How do you view your garden? AND please tell me Gail is this PPPP

Sunday safari.......

It is dull today....not bug weather........the birds are hiding in the trees. In this garden though you will always find the bees working when the weather is dry.

Sure enough they were easy to find......

and very pretty they looked to. Hope you are all having a sunny Sunday.......

Magic moments........

Monday and Tuesday the garden was hit by strong North Easterly winds, gusting at 50mph they have done a lot of damage to trees and shrubs. Leaves decorate the grass and branches hang......there is much to be done here. I was pleasantly surprised to see the plants had survived..........I always plant closely so that each plant supports the other.....it seems to have worked......

This delicate and pretty wildflower was my Gt. grandmothers favourite bloom. Ragged Robin is dotted all around the garden and is very dear to me.......

Poppi spent the day with me yesterday.........we talked about the wildflowers

and how important they are to the bees......

butterflies and moths........

We talked of colour.....

We both loved this Aquilegia.....I love white and Poppi loves lilac....this little bloom had a touch of both and is very pretty.......

Walking around the garden with her, showing her the flowers.......

watching, as her tiny hands touch the leaves. I gave her a little job to do. Plant some strawberry plants for Mummy.......with soil, tubs and plant on the patio she started to work. I gardened nearby, and listened to the song of the skylark. The swallows were in flight..........then suddenly drifting on the light breeze her voice came to me. Little Poppi was singing.........quietly.......softly.........I watched her working, her sweet voice music to my ears.....and a tear fell, I was so moved by the moment. Her head turned to me, and without words she came running towards me, her little arms open........I bent down and opened my arms......she hugged me tight, so tight and said "I love you Nanna."

This morning I looked out of the kitchen window.......I saw the kitten on the lawn.....Poppi would smile and say how sweet she was........

I went into the garden and picked some lemon balm to make my tea. My son bought this lovely glass teapot on one of his trips abroad......it is perfect for one.
I sat in the silence and sipped my tea.....Poppi had left her magic with me......I was looking forward to working in the garden.......I may even sing .........

Safari Sunday.......

It is pleasantly warm today..........

The swallows have been hunting over the garden........

The sunshine has brought the bugs out........

some were hiding.......and perhaps a little camera shy!

Red damselflies would not sit long enough for me to take a decent photograph......

This little chap got caught in the act....taking the nuts from the bird feeders......

I am not very happy with him at the moment....he has taken the eggs from the robins nest..........

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday........

Did you know?

The Wisteria is looking wonderful, each day new blooms open.......

This little arch is covered in ivy and a clematis, for the life of me I cannot remember its name......climbers over arches are wonderful nesting sites for birds..........

My little bees are working in the garden.........did you know bumblebees have smelly feet and leave a scent on the flower they visit, to tell other bees, there is no nectar left.......

They do not have ears. They pick up vibrations through their bodies........

Bumblebees can fly at 30 mph. The buzz is produced by their flight muscles.......

The scientific name for the bumblebee is bombus. Their old English name is Dumbledore.......don't you just love that.....Dumbledore, what a great name.

As you will see from the above photographs this little bee was intent on reaching this bloom. She buzzed and hovered around it for ages..........'I will get there, I will get there'
And she did. I delighted in watching her........bees charm and captivate me.....they take me back to Gramps and Nannies garden......a small child sitting amongst the blooms on a hot summers day watching the bees fly from flower to flower.........a bygone age that stays with me..........that stills me when life is rushed and harsh................I have a lot to thank my grandparents for, I wish I could tell them. I am sure my grandfather looks down on me, and perhaps he knows just how much he meant.......I do hope so.......

Bees and blooms......

The heady fragrance of hawthorn blossom hangs in the air. Some flowers have already been served by the bees and are just starting to blush.

Granny's bonnet dance in the light spring breeze.

Cross pollenation has produced some lovely colours.......

and some unusual flowers.....

I think this is my favourite......

I was given this bird box at the weekend. It has bumble bees nesting in it. Someone had removed it from the outside wall of their house. I am concerned for the bees and their survival. Bumble bees are complex creatures and passive by nature. To move them at this critical time, will put severe stress on the colony (if they are all there and that is questionable).

The bees are tiny. After much research I came to the conclusion they must be Bombus Locorum. You can see one resting near the box entrance. I have placed the unit in a sheltered area, amongst wildflowers, in the copse. Today I saw several females with full pollen bages, enter the unit. I am hoping these charming little bees will survive their ordeal.......

Fortunately there are plenty of blooms in the garden..........

This is a British native......Geranium phaeum or mourning widow........this is a particular favourite of mine.....and bees adore it........dotted around the garden I am sure it will be a valuable source of pollen for my little bees.

Have a happy week and enjoy your garden if you can....................

Sunday Safari

The apple tree is losing her blossoms.....I thought I would spend some time with her and take some photographs of insects that visited.......

I have always been fascinated by insects.......they intrigue me.......as a small child I was never frightened by bugs........and the journey with my camera has opened up a new and beautiful world for me.......I love to share it with you. I am not sure what this creature is..........but he stayed in that position for ages.

Of course the bees came.......

many different species.......

all enjoying the old trees blossoms.......

I was distracted by a carder bee.....I know I have shown very similar photographs, but they make me smile everytime I see them.....they look like they are trying on a hat!
Back to the apple blossom.......this insect fascinated me....it hovered in a similar way to a hoverfly. It has a very long proboscis. After looking through 'Wildlife of Britain' I came to the conclusion is was a Bee fly (Bombyliidae). They feed on nectar.......

As it flew away it made me laugh.......it looked so scruffy......almost tatty.......I found this little creature quite captivating and it was a first sighting for me......

I do hope that you enjoyed the first Safari Sunday of 2009. What is visiting your garden at the moment?