Posted in Gardening, My garden, Uncategorized, tagged flowers, Gardening, Spring on January 29, 2023| 2 Comments »
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) in the garden today
I forgot that we had snowdrops in the garden but they were revealed yesterday after we cleared away fallen twigs and debris following winter wind and rain.
We now have four clumps, all apparently spread by seeds from the original group.
A bit out of focus, but there were soft raindrops on the flowers after earlier drizzle
Posted in Gardening, Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged autumn, Gardening, Nature, Trees on November 30, 2022| 2 Comments »
A single leaf of Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica) clings to a twig in the garden
Today is the last day of November and tomorrow we start the three cold months of winter. Throughout these last few weeks the colour has gradually been draining from the garden, as viewed from my desk window. Here are some highlights… (more…)
Posted in Nature, Uncategorized, tagged Gardening, Nature, Spring, thompson's park on March 24, 2022| 3 Comments »
Pink magnolia in Thompson’s Park
I recently visited my nearest green space in Cardiff, Thompson’s Park, to see how spring was coming along. The magnolia trees were in bloom, the grassy bank was full of daffodils and the parks people had planted primulas in the flower bed. Here are my snaps… (more…)
Posted in Gardening, Snapshots of the day, Uncategorized, tagged Gardening, winter on February 27, 2022| 2 Comments »
A splash of colour in a streetside garden – Chaenomeles or flowering quince
You can smell this from a great distance – the wonderful Sarcococca confusa or Christmas box
Another strongly-scented flower – Daphne in my own garden
A long-lasting winter favourite that always looks old-fashioned to me – Viburnum tinus in a streetside garden
Posted in Gardening, Nature, Uncategorized, tagged Gardening, Nature, thompson's park, Victoria Park on October 3, 2021| 2 Comments »
Sunflower in Thompson’s Park
There was still plenty of colour on offer in my local Cardiff parks – Victoria Park and Thompson’s Park – as September ushered out a meteorologically disappointing summer. Here are some of my pictures… (more…)
Posted in Garden visits, Gardening, Uncategorized, tagged Bute, Cardiff, Gardening on August 30, 2021| 2 Comments »
The Rudbeckias are among the stars of the herbaceous borders in Bute Park at the moment
I had not visited the usually wonderful herbaceous borders at the city end of Bute Park in Cardiff since well before the Covid-19 lockdown. I was working far away down in Cardiff Bay for a couple of years and then when I was forced to base myself at home the park seemed too far to walk. I have become lazy and until recently buses seemed too much of an infection risk. (more…)
Posted in Garden visits, Gardening, Uncategorized, tagged Gardening, Nature, Summer, Victoria Park on August 22, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Raindrops on “daisies” in Victoria Park
It’s time for another monthly visit to Victoria Park in Cardiff. In June all the flower beds were bare, in July they were full of colour, but in August the flowers are already fading. Here are my latest snaps… (more…)
Posted in Garden visits, Gardening, Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Gardening, Nature, Summer, Trees, Victoria Park on July 26, 2021| 4 Comments »
Everywhere in Victoria Park this month were daisy-type flowers – this was in the narrow bed near the ice-cream shack and I think it is a beautiful Rudbeckia
Another month, another view of Victoria Park in Cardiff. In June all the flower beds were bare with brown earth ready to be planted. Just a month later they are full of colour. Here are my latest snaps…
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Posted in Garden visits, Gardening, Nature, Trees, Uncategorized, tagged Gardening, Nature, Summer, Trees, Victoria Park on June 20, 2021| 2 Comments »
The bandstand in Victoria park, Cardiff, in June 2021
Once again I took some general views of Victoria Park when I went this month to visit the Lombardy poplar I am following.
April in Cardiff was dry, May was wet and June has been changeable. But it’s good for the garden. What is also good is that our council Parks department staff have been in everyday non-emergency action again. Since last month they have cleared out all the dead tulips and fancy daisies (Bellis perennis ‘Bellissima’?) and the flower beds are ready for summer bedding plants. They will probably be a bit late but everyone here thinks summer is late this year anyway, because of a cold and wet May.
Here are my pictures… (more…)
Posted in Gardening, My garden, Nature, Uncategorized, tagged Gardening, Nature, squirrels on June 6, 2021| 7 Comments »
Grey squirrel eating mahonia berries in my garden
We have three grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) in our back garden – occasionally four. I tolerate them. I even let them eat the slab of bird fat I dangle from the bird table, knowing they won’t attack the squirrel-proof tube of small fat pellets nearby – for birds only.
I don’t mind them eating the mahonia berries, although I am surprised they are brave enough to climb the very prickly leaves. There are enough berries for all. (more…)
The Squirrelbasket 