Weeds and Wildflowers

8th February 2021

We have a sprinkling of snow this morning. It is bright and crisp - and it feels very cold! It is great weather to be inside looking out!

The crocuses are becoming more numerous.

The first celendine flowers are appearing. I like celedine - they burst out in spring, with their glossy yellow leaves. Many no doubt consider them to be another weed, although the same people will often delight in seeing them on a walk in a wood!

Laurel are not my favourite bushes - probably because mine have become trees and take a lot of light from back garden. They also drop leaves into my ponds. However they are developing buds and will soon be in flower - they also provide berries for the birds.

I think that a fresh lily pad is growing below the surface in my small pond - just to the right of the dying pad.

I continue to feed the birds. It is interesting how over time the population changes. Today they have left their footprints in the snow. My coal tits have been gone for a while but a pair of blackcaps have taken up residence. The female is particularly aggressive and attacks any small bird coming for food - she leaves the woopigeons in peace! The occasional golfinch visits the birdtable. Blue tits, great tits, dunnocks, blackbirds and magpies are regular visitors and my robin follows me around the garden whenever I do any gardening.

The hazel catkins are close to bursting, though I haven't yet seen any sign of the female flowers. The cyclamen flowers continue to develop in preparation of the hedgehog's re-awakening.

Till next week,

Chris