I've not been online much in the last few weeks, my dad's been poorly so I've been driving up and down the M62 visiting him and helping my mum. Not that there is much to blog about at the moment. Its too wet to do much at the allotment though I've had a delivery of some manure which needs moving to my plot so that will keep me busy when the weather gets a bit drier.
I'm trying to get ahead with my Christmas shopping and did have chance to visit the lovely Christmas markets in Manchester last week. My friend and I were walking on a cold frosty evening in St Ann's Square where there are a few trees all lit up with fairy lights and I was amazed to see masses of small little birds flitting in and out of the trees. Though hard to see what they were as they wouldn't keep still but it seems that they were flocks of Pied Wagtails which roost in the trees. I think they like the warmth from the market stalls and the shelter of the city square. It was a lovely moment.
At home I'm also enjoying watching the wildlife in my garden. The birds are busy making the most of the seed feeders and the blackbirds and thrushes are feasting on the windfall apples from my two apple trees which I've not got round to clearing away, good job I was too busy.
I have a plant that arrived in the garden, a chance seedling that has grown and grown but now its one of my favourite plants in the garden and its much loved by the garden wildlife.
I'm trying to get ahead with my Christmas shopping and did have chance to visit the lovely Christmas markets in Manchester last week. My friend and I were walking on a cold frosty evening in St Ann's Square where there are a few trees all lit up with fairy lights and I was amazed to see masses of small little birds flitting in and out of the trees. Though hard to see what they were as they wouldn't keep still but it seems that they were flocks of Pied Wagtails which roost in the trees. I think they like the warmth from the market stalls and the shelter of the city square. It was a lovely moment.
At home I'm also enjoying watching the wildlife in my garden. The birds are busy making the most of the seed feeders and the blackbirds and thrushes are feasting on the windfall apples from my two apple trees which I've not got round to clearing away, good job I was too busy.
I have a plant that arrived in the garden, a chance seedling that has grown and grown but now its one of my favourite plants in the garden and its much loved by the garden wildlife.
I didn't know what it was for ages but then there was a recent article in The Garden magazine (October 2012) on Cotoneasters and I spotted it there. Well its definitely a Cotoneaster though I'm not quite sure of the species, I will have to do some more research but as you will see from the wiki page there are hundreds of species.
I guess it is not in the right place, it is close to an old apple tree and a Holly (another unplanted seedling which is growing very big now), but I can't bear to get rid of it and I doubt I'd be able to move it. So why is it so great, well it has lovely fresh spring foliage, it is smothered in flowers in late spring/early summer and though the flowers are small they are much loved by bees.The whole plant is buzzing with bees at that time of year. Apparently they are particularly useful source of nectar in a time when there can be a short supply, the 'June gap'. Then in autumn they develop bright red berries and I've enjoyed watching the blackbirds eating the berries this week. In fact it was probably them who helped plant it there in the first place!! The leaves are also turning a lovely orangey colour too. How's that for value.
It has a lovely arching habit too.
I be looking out for other seedlings of this plant in the garden and give it pride of place next time.
That looks very similar to one that I have in the garden, and if it is, it will grow huge and you may wonder why you left it to grow. They are such a good plant for birds though field fares and blackbirds certainly love the berries.
ReplyDeleteWorth the risk for now I think, will see how it grows!
DeleteI can see why you love it so much. I love the colour of the foliage. Maybe you could just give it a good prune every so often to keep it under control. Why not in the mean time try to grow another which you could maybe then plant somewhere more appropriate. I'm sure they must be fairly easy to grow from seed or maybe hardwood cuttings.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear your dad isn't well. It can be such a stressful time. Hope he gets better soon. Best wishes WW.
Yes I might try growing it from seed, am sure it would be relatively easy.
DeleteThanks for your wishes, dad improving all the time.
Sounds like you've got a lot on at the moment. Hope your Dad is OK. The birds in the trees might have been long-tailed-tits. We have lots of them in our garden and they hang out in the apple trees together. They're very sweet and quite tame :)
ReplyDeleteI thought they might have been long-tailed tits, but I asked my brother (he's a v keen bird watcher) and he thought more like pied wagtails but not sure. They were lovely to see anyway.
DeleteHope your dad's better soon. My dad's been ill too, had a stay in hospital and has to go back in for an operation in the new year. It's stressful seeing a loved one ill at the best of times, but even more so at this time of year. I have a cotoneater just outside my window, it's smothered in berries at the moment. I love watching the blackbirds having their fill.
ReplyDeleteYes its all quite stressful, but he seems to be improving. The blackbirds are needing the berries now its turned much colder.
DeleteChance seedlings a real bonus, even more so when it's something you like and is in the right place. My dogwood was one such seedling.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your dad is on the mend. Flighty xx
I think so too and think the blackbirds are happy.
DeleteChance seedlings that attractive are a rare and lovely thing! I'm sure you can prune it to keep it in check size-wise, and if it turned up and grew so happily in your garden (probably via bird) I'm sure you could grow more from seed if you fancied giving it a go. Hope your Dad is well again soon, so stressful for you and your Mum.
ReplyDelete