Winter Bloomer

On dull, rainy, winter days  this camellia bush is guaranteed to brighten our garden.

Pop up allotments.

What a very good idea.

I came across several of these recently in Devonport Park.

The broken stem

A vertical solution to a horizontal problem

When you don't have space for a conventional front garden

think vertically.

A walk on the wild side.

It's a jungle out there.

A tiny sliver of green amidst the grey.

Rather grandiosely named for such a modest plot.

Trouble is brewing in the garden.

Colourful new arrivals are challenging the traditional "pecking order" in town gardens.

The once all powerful Gnomes fear displacement and are organizing resistance to the newcomers.

Most are mounting peaceful meetings and demonstrations,

But recently there have been some disquieting developments.

Dali has a lot to answer for.

Vertical gardening.

In the crowded inner city

every space, however small or lacking in privacy, can become an oasis on a beautiful day.

Giant Rhubarb

April showers

We have had some pretty ferocious 'showers' this month and the gardens are looking bedraggled.
Even the forecaster's promise of warm, sunny weather hasn't materialised here in Plymouth yet.

The Furry Forager

 

Squirrels don't hibernate, but in Autumn they gather as much food as they can which they hide in their 'food stores', from which they can retrieve it during times of scarcity during the long winter.

Good news for bees?

Well, let's hope so. because bee numbers have fallen dramatically.

A £2.7 million study of a controversial nicotine-based pesticide has found that it can cause harm to bees, prompting environmentalists and some scientists to call for an outright ban.




France is already planning an outright ban on neonicotinoids which could come into effect in 2018.

The Uplighter

Serrata

Beautiful lillies

So far our Spring weather has been very disappointing,

 but these Calla Lillies help to raise the spirits.

Daylight Robbery

It's gardening Jim, but not as we know it.

At last, I've found it.

This obviously is the door to the secret garden.

A first time visitor to our garden.

This beauty turned up yesterday and perched for a few minutes on a fence post.